Our older people Community Mental Health teams (CMHT) work with you if you are aged 65 or over and experiencing moderate or severe mental illness. We assess, treat, monitor and support you and your family, in your own home.

We can support you with other services where you need them, including our Intensive Dementia Support Service (IDSS) or Home Treatment Team  who can support you at home if you are in a period of mental health crisis.

We can also arrange admissions to our specialist older people’s wards at Pyrland wards 1 and 2 in Taunton if you need to stay for more intensive support as an inpatient. Our Older People’s Community Mental Health teams also provide an ‘in-reach service’, providing specialist mental health support and assessments for you if you need to be admitted to one of our community hospitals for help with a general health problem.

Our older people Community Mental Health teams are made up of community psychiatric nurses, occupational therapists, support, time and recovery workers, assistant practitioners, psychiatrists, clinical psychologists and administrative support. They also work as part of a bigger team which brings together district nursing teams and integrated rehabilitation teams who can make sure all your health needs are met. We co-ordinate your care across these services whenever needed and will, on average, visit a person every one to two weeks for six months, or longer if required.

Referrals to the teams are usually made through your GP who will undertake initial tests before referral or another health professional caring for you. Referrals can also be made via Somerset County Council’s adult social care if you are under their care.

Newly accepted referrals will be offered an appointment within six weeks. Following assessment, a care plan is agreed with you which may include medication, referral to psychology, or support workers or referral to other agencies such as social services.

Our Older People’s Community Mental Health teams work Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm and offer a duty service for urgent issues.

Our memory assessment services provide assessment, diagnosis, initial treatment and information and support to you and your family if you are developing a form of dementia or other memory problems.

Our teams are made up of a consultant psychiatrist, doctors, psychiatric nurses, a psychologist, and other mental health staff.

We offer an initial assessment, diagnosis, and treatment service, when a GP is concerned that you or someone you know, may be developing a form of dementia or other memory problems. We also provide information and support, including support to carers.

Your GP will undertake initial screening to identify your memory problems and then refer you to us. Once you have been referred, you will be seen within six weeks.

The service accepts referrals from a wide range of health and social care professionals, as well as voluntary services. We also accept queries and referrals direct from you and your carer. You can email us at CranleighOPMHTeam@sompar.nhs.uk

Our Bridgwater base is at:

Glanville House
Church street
Bridgwater
Somerset
TA6 5AT

In our service you will be supported every step of the way with:

• Pre-test information and support to make sure you fully understand the process, structure and possible outcomes of your assessment
• A full assessment that meets national (NICE) standards
• A clear diagnosis with support and information to help you understand your diagnosis, the implications, prognosis and the services available to provide ongoing support
• Further detailed specialist assessments promptly available where required, including further psychological support, occupational therapy assessments, diagnostic imaging (scans)
• A clear care plan agreed with you and your carer and support for both you and your carer
• Regular review and monitoring

At all times we will make sure you have clear information provided in format that you find most helpful. We will make sure we work with you to develop a coping strategy, putting you in touch with educational and support groups for people with dementia. Where appropriate, you may be prescribed medication.

We can provide education and information packages, training and support for carers, including a carer’s assessment and ongoing carers support.

Our service gives you easy access to community mental health services where needed and to dementia advisors and services provided by the community and voluntary sectors. We make available advice on legal and financial issues, benefits entitlement for people with dementia.
We can give you easy access to advocacy services and advice on any technology or telecare which can help.

After assessment, your follow-up will be provided by our community mental health service, by referral to Alzheimer’s Society dementia advisors, Somerset County Council or for follow-up by your GP

• Look after your mental wellbeing
• NHS 5 steps to mental wellbeing
• NHS mental health
• NHS get help from mental health charities
• Somerset adult mental health and wellbeing services services
• Manage stress
• Low mood, sadness and depression
• Help for suicidal thoughts
• Alzheimer's Society
• Help for carers looking after people with mental health conditions