Police pilot project is 'collaborative working at its best'

Mental health service seeking a third nurse to meet demand

A manager for community mental health on the Island has praised the work of a pilot project between the Department of Health and the Constabulary.

The mental health police liaison service, which has been in operation since October, saw the recruitment of two nurses to form part of a crises referral team.

By embedding two permament support workers with expertise in social care at the Douglas headquarters, the aim of the project is to better equip the police force when responding to call outs involving mental health incidents.

Responsible for the technical lead and operational management of the service is Ross Bailey, a former probation officer in South East London, with experience of working in the criminal justice system and with mental health.

“Mental health is everyone’s responsibility. We are not going to solve the situation through one agency.

“This [the pilot project] embodies that sense of working in an integrated way to best serve the people of the Isle of Man.

"It's well documented that both locally and in the UK the police have a lot of contact with people with mental health problems, particularly through the control room via 999.

"And it's been well documented within the Chief Constable's annual reports over the last few years that the numbers have been consistent with that of the UK.

By working jointly and collaboratively with the police, Mr Bailey believes early intervention is key.

"Regardless of what your illness is, the sooner you assess it and treat it the better the prognosis and the outcome."

Due to demand, a vacancy for a third nurse is expected to be advertised in the new year and whilst police receive some basic mental health training, Mr Bailey admits they're not mental health professionals.

In terms of police powers, if an officer is concerned about the welfare or the safety of an individual they are able to detain them under the Mental Health Act 1998.

This involves sectioning that person to one of three places of safety; Manannan Court, Nobles Hospital or police custody.

"One of the major points of this pilot is to enable the police quicker access to specialist mental health nurses.

"They can accompany an officer to the scene and make a judgement then and there and assess the individual, to ascertain what's going to be the best form of treatment.

"Importantly, that then can remove the need for them to be taken to the emergency department or other inappropriate areas, such as the police station."