A team of mental health nurses from the Isle of Wight NHS Trust have been recognised for their pioneering work with police to support highly vulnerable people.
The Trust’s Crisis Response and Home Treatment (CRHT) Team received a formal commendation at the Police District Commander’s Awards, held by Hampshire Constabulary, for their part in “Serenity”.
The project was the first of its kind in the UK, and sees mental health professionals from the CRHT team attending the scene of incidents with police officers. This allows them to offer expertise and advice in responding to, assessing and safeguarding people experiencing mental health problems.
Four staff received a framed certificate on behalf of the whole CRHT team from Hampshire Constabulary Chief Constable Andy Marsh, High Sheriff of the Isle of Wight Ron Holland and Lord Lieutenant Major General Martin White. The team was nominated by Sergeant Paul Jennings who initiated and led on the Serenity project.
At the ceremony, the team were described as having made a significant contribution to mental health policing, not just on the Island but nationally. Their presence at mental health response incidents has been credited with helping police to reduce the need to use powers to detain someone under the Mental Health Act. Since Serenity’s introduction, this had been cut from around 16 detentions a month to just six a month.
The team was described as being “a pleasure to work with and a credit to the NHS”.
Photographed L-R: High Sheriff Ron Holland, Paula Stratton, Jackie Young, Dave Wilkins and Pat Fischer, all Mental Health Practitioners.
