Health

Emergency Crisis Situations

Medical emergencies (e.g. self-harm or suicide attempt) call 999 or go to a hospital Accident & Emergency

For non-medical emergencies, contact Halton Assessment/Home Treatment Team first to see if we can deal with the emergency

Halton Assessment/Home Treatment Team – Manager is Matthew Oultram

• Assessment Team is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and see all new referrals for people not already being supported by mental health services based in a hospital or clinic rather than in the community.
  • The team completes a telephone triage and, if appropriate, face to face assessments to signpost to the appropriate service
  • We aim to assess, plan and care for the person within 12 weeks, if we offer intervention in our service (such as Medic input, brief interventions, extended assessments, etc. this can go up to 16 weeks)
  • We cover all of Halton for emergencies from 8pm to 8am
  • Referrals for Assessment Team will be accepted primarily from GPs, however if the service user was in a crisis/emergency then self-referrals can be made, we will also accept referrals from any professional but again we would primarily ask that they start at the beginning of the treatment pathway with their GP first
  • Contact Details: Assessment Team – 0151 422 6804
• Home Treatment Service is available from 8am to 8pm, 7 days a week
  • The team is considered an alternative to hospital admission and will only take cases requiring intensive support, have significantly high risks and need a lot of care to ensure they remain out of hospital (i.e. potentially visiting 1-4 times every day).
  • From 8pm emergency cases will be dealt with by the Assessment Team night practitioner as mentioned above
  • Referrals can only come from a hospital or clinic mental health services (this includes Assessment Team), they will not take referrals from GP’s or self-referrals (unless under a hospital or clinic mental health service and it is out of hours)
  • Contact Details: Home Treatment Team – 01928 753981

Halton Recovery Team – Managed by Martyn Veevers

• The Recovery Team is available from 9am to 5pm, Monday-Friday
  • The team will take cases needing care co-ordination and longer-term support, those with a diagnosis of a severe and enduring mental illness (i.e. Schizophrenia, Bi-Polar, Severe/Recurrent Depression, etc.)
  • We hold a caseload of people under shared-care service for people who are prescribed certain medications that the GP cannot prescribe alone and therefore require a Psychiatrist review every 6-12 months but do not require any other support from mental health services
  • We will also take referrals for people who require more intensive psychological therapy, (classed as Step 4 therapy), these people usually have complex symptoms and higher risks
  • People who have less complex symptoms and considered as high risk that require psychological therapy will go to Halton IAPT (Improving Access to Psychological Therapies) for Step 2 and Step 3 therapy e.g. depression, anxiety, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) or Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
  • Referrals can only be made by other a hospital or clinic mental health service – GPs, professionals or Self-referrals need to go through the Assessment Team first
  • Contact Details: Recovery Team – 01928 753968

The Halton Children’s Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA) identifies ‘the big picture’ in terms of the health and wellbeing needs and inequalities of the local population. It is based on the analysis of current and predicted health and well-being outcomes and sets out what people want from their services.

The JSNA is underpinned by partnership working, community engagement and evidence of effectiveness.

Healthwatch Halton help local people to influence health and social care services

• Health & Social Care Signposting Directory – Halton
• Healthwatch Halton Annual Report 2015-16

SEND Briefing – provides important information around key findings and key messages for staff from case reviews

Information to help prepare and plan for going into Hospital

Search for a GP, Densist, Chemist

Search for your local Doctor-GP Practice, Dentists, Opticians, Hospital

Toolkit/Form to complete before attending medical appointments

This can help you to explain to doctors/medical staff about things that are worrying you/your family.  It was developed with disabled young people, parents/carers and other experts. It can help you think about:

• Is going well
• Might help to make it easier to join in everyday activities and make life more enjoyable – there is space for concerns or questions
• You’ll also find a list of medical conditions, areas of function and other things that might be important

Choose the traffic light colour most appropriate:

• Green – if no concerns
• Amber – if some concerns
• Red – if serious concerns

Take this Toolkit-Form to the appointment to help you discuss things

Easy Read Guide – Questions to ask your GP or at a Hospital Appointment

Easy Read Guide

Carers Centre Information Book & Hospital Liaison Service

• Carers Information Book
• Hospital Liaison Service Leaflet
• Annual Health Checks

The Minor Ailments Scheme (or Care at the Chemist) is available to those exempt from paying prescription charges – because they’re under 16, over 60 or have a prescription prepayment certificate (PPC) – you don’t have to pay for the certain medicine.  Information from Boots the Chemist about the scheme

Common ailments that may be treated under the scheme include:

• colds
• coughs
• diarrhoea
• earache
• hay fever
• head lice
• nappy rash
• sore throat
• teething

Children in Care Health Services for those in the care of a local authority

NHS Choices – Caring for a disabled child – Tips for parents/carers

This is a community based team of experienced specialist nurses and nursery nurses providing support, advice and treatment to children and young people with bowel and/or bladder problems

What is Continuing Care for Children and Young People?

It’s a tailor made package of support needed over an extended period of time for children and young people aged 0-18 years with complex health needs due to a disability, accident or illness.  Despite accessing all available support from health services a tailor made package of support is still required to meet their health care needs.

National Framework for Children and Young People’s Continuing Care (Department of Health, 2015)

The ‘Framework’ describes the process, led by CCGs, which organisations should go through in assessing needs and putting in place bespoke packages of continuing care for children and young people.

The assessment process is not a set process and may be adapted to meet the needs of the child/young person and their family. In particular, where a child has a special educational need or disability (SEND), which will often be the case, then CCGs and local authorities should endeavour to coordinate the assessment and agreement of the package of continuing care, as part of the process to develop the child’s Education, Health and Care plan.

What’s the difference between Continuing Care and NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC)?

NHS CHC is for adults who have very severe or complex health needs focusing mainly on health and care needs

Continuing Care for a child or young person should also consider their physical, emotional and intellectual development as they move towards adulthood. The framework offers guidance about Transitional planning and arrangements for young people as they move into adulthood and adult services.

Holistic Care Package

The NHS and Local Authority work together to provide a holistic care package to meet the assessed health, social care and educational needs to provide the best outcomes for both child/young person and their family.  Assessments are carried out at a place of the parent/child’s choice usually in the family home.

NHS Halton CCG Continuing Care – Operating Procedure Oct ’16

Introduction to Personal Health Budgets in NHS Continuing Healthcare

The national team has published a short animated film showing how personal health budgets can offer more choice for people as part of NHS Continuing Healthcare. Since October 2014, people in receipt of NHS Continuing Healthcare have had a legal right to have a personal health budget, enabling them to receive care and support that best suits them. The film goes through six steps involved in providing people with a personal health budget, and is a great resource for all Continuing Healthcare teams and professionals.

Halton CCG Explained – Easy Read Guide

Halton CCG plan NHS services to ensure they meet the needs of local people

Individual Funding Requests to fund healthcare

 Easy Read Guide to Commissioning

Who are we?

We are Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists, Speech & Language Therapists and Therapy Assistants. There are Clinical and Assistant Psychologists, Consultant Psychiatrist, Community Matron (Bridgewater NHS Foundation Trust. We also have office staff who answer the telephone, send out appointments and letters and help us run our service. All staff are DBS checked.

Halton Community Specialist Learning Disabilities Team Easy Read Leaflet

Where are we based?

At the Bridges Learning Centre in Widnes, on Crow Wood Health Park, Crow Wood Lane. The Bridges Learning Centre has a ramp outside to the front door and there is a system to help if you have a hearing problem. There is a toilet with facilities for people with physical disabilities.  There are disabled parking spaces in our car park, which are near to the building

We work with people living in the Halton area – Runcorn and Widnes. We work with people in many settings; at home, at college, at our office or at your day service or other community places you attend.

Who we provide a service for?

We work with people:

• from the age of 18 upwards, if young people have complex needs Children’s Services may ask that we get involved at a younger age, so that you know us when you reach age 18. Children’s Services will still take the lead on your care though.
• who have a diagnosed learning disability, this may be written down in your SEN Statement, EHC Plan or in an assessment about your understanding and knowledge.

We do not provide services for people who do not have a learning disability. This includes people with physical disabilities, mental health issues, brain injuries during adult life or autism without a learning disability.

What does are service do?

Our team supports people who have difficulties accessing mainstream services because of their learning disability. We support people who have difficulties with all aspects of their life including day to day tasks, health and lifestyles. We also offer training for families, carers and other professionals.

How can I start using the service?

You can make a referral yourself or ask someone to do it for you. Anyone making a referral on your behalf needs to ask you if you agree to this – Referral Form

We are a small service and sometimes have a waiting list. If we feel another service can give you better help we will tell you who they are.  As part of the NHS we do not charge you for our services. Sometimes you may need to buy equipment for yourself, if other services don’t provide it and we cannot find a service to pay for it.

How are decisions made about who can use our service?

When people are referred to our service we check what information is available to show they have a learning disability. If more information is needed we may contact you, your carers or the person who made the referral.

If we are still insure if you have a learning disability we may visit you to carry out an assessment to find out more about you. We can help you understand our decision in different ways. We may talk with you and your carers and can also present information in a report with words and pictures.

How do we communicate with people with learning disabilities and how are they involved in making decisions and planning?

We will talk to you during our sessions and let you and your carers know how you are doing. When we have finished our work with you we send you a report and let your GP know what we have been doing together.  We sometimes ask you to tell us what you think about our service.

Who do I contact for further information?

Please ring 0151 495 5302 and ask to speak to a member of our team.

Team Contact Details

Provide support to access health care services for children and young people with a diagnosed learning disability, complex physical/mental health needs or behaviour that causes a barrier to receiving care or treatment from health care services

TeensHealths

Community Matrons

Continence Service for those aged over 19 years with a bladder or bowel issue

Occupational Therapy for Assistive Technology for information about equipment to support independent living for people with disabilities, their carers, professionals and other organisations

Foot Care service to assess, diagnose and treat lower leg needs for people with a clinical or medical need

Primary Care Psychological Therapies Service available to people 16 years and above

Stop Smoking Service offers free advice and support to help you stop smoking

Assistive Technology to support independent living for people with disabilities, their carers, professionals and other organisations

Foot Care – assess, diagnose and treat lower leg needs for people with a clinical or medical need

Psychological Therapy Service for those aged 16 years and above

Stop Smoking Service – advice and support to help you stop smoking

Transforming care is a national programme led by NHS England which is all about improving health and care services so that more people with learning disabilities and/or autism can live in the community, with the right support, close to home and have the same opportunities as anyone else. More information can be found here

Information and websites that explain what your rights are, how to use the NHS and where to go for further support

In this section you’ll find information about the

• Childrens Social Care Equipment Criteria, Referral Pathway, Assessment Process and Impartial Websites, Parents’ Forum & Helpline
• Education – Equipment & Support Policy and Useful Information
• Halton Borough Council & Independent Living Centre
• Woodview (Child Development Centre)
• HELPS
• Halton Integrated Community Equipment Service (HICES)
• Wheelchairs

In this section you’ll find information on:

• Minor Adaptations
• Major Adaptations
• Re-housing and Accessible Housing
• Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) and Halton Home Improvement Agency
• Dropped Kerbs and Vehicle Cross-overs
• Disabled Parking Bays
• Driveways
• Housing Associations