Care Homes project

The Care Home Project which is part of the local Community Mental Health Teams (CMHT) offer for Older Adults has been established to provide focused intervention and support to those individuals living in 24-hour care environments. Its overall aim is to improve the quality of life for these individuals and to better equip Care Homes and Nursing Homes with the knowledge and skills needed to care for those with mental health needs which could include dementia, depression, anxiety, and psychosis. Raising awareness around delirium is also part of the offer.

The Care Home Project is inclusive of the following 24-hour care settings:

Residential Homes
Residential Homes with an understanding of Dementia
Nursing Homes
Nursing Homes with an understanding of Dementia
Specialist Dementia Nursing Homes
Challenging Behaviour Units

How does it work

Each Community Mental Health Team for Older Adults will have a dedicated Care Home Clinician (s) who will specifically work into the care homes and nursing homes within their locality. ‘Light touch’ clinics are offered as well as more intense specialist care and intervention where this is indicated. The Care Home Clinician’s will offer a range of teaching packages to support where there are gaps in knowledge or a refresh is needed around specific topics.

The Care Homes Project aims to ease access to services, as well as promoting and empowering those working within care homes and nursing homes to resolve concerns independently.

The Care Homes Project aims to work with partners from both health and social care, to provide a holistic and joined up approach.

There are other teams within DHCFT who work into and support individuals living in Care Homes and Nursing Homes. Our crisis teams work collaboratively with the Care Home Clinicians and the CMHT’s. Our crisis teams are:

The Dementia Rapid Response Team (DRRT) which is for those with an organic illness/dementia experiencing a crisis within their mental health and who are in need of intensive support and intervention. This team aims to prevent hospital admission, as well as supporting those individuals who are transitioning from an acute mental health ward into a 24-hour care setting.

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The In Reach and Home Treatment Team (IRHTT) provide support for those with a functional mental illness within a crisis of their mental health. This team aims to prevent hospital admission, as well as supporting those individuals who are transitioning from an acute mental health ward into a 24-hour care setting.

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