Specialist police officers, railway colleagues and mental health professionals have joined forces to improve support for people experiencing a mental health crisis.
The British transport joint response service launched in Greater Manchester yesterday. This is a 12-month pilot funded and run by Network Rail in partnership with British Transport Police, Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust, and Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust.
A senior mental health practitioner and British transport officer will jointly attend mental health crisis incidents happening anywhere on the rail network.
The practitioner will support and assess the person, before signposting or referring them to the best service for their needs, for example their local 24/7 crisis helpline, care co-ordinator, or GP.
The aim is to ensure people experiencing a mental health crisis can access the right support, in the right place; with all community-based care options considered before A&E or a 136 admission (hospital-based place of safety).
This is vital for their recovery, ensuring they have a positive experience and maintaining their dignity and liberty. It’ll also help ensure best use of officers’ and NHS professionals’ time.
The service will run five days a week. It mainly covers Greater Manchester, but will extend to Chorley, Warrington, Buxton, and Macclesfield.
The service isn’t intended to be a shortcut to receiving mental health support, as people will always be referred or signposted to the right service for their needs.
Michelle Black, route crime and security manager for Network Rail, said: “We’re proud to be working with our partners to help keep people safe. The rail network connects communities, so we’re in a unique position to support vulnerable people in times of crisis. We’re confident this partnership will help fulfil our goal of ensuring everyone gets home safely, every day.”
Chief inspector James Mitchell, from British Transport Police, said: “This is a perfect example of how partnership working can enhance and improve the way we respond to people in crisis. Working with partners allows us to pool our resources and deliver the best, most effective, and efficient care.”
Danielle Stephenson, senior mental health practitioner for Pennine Care said, “It was great to head out on our first shift yesterday. This is more than a job for me. I feel privileged to be able to help people who are at their most vulnerable and set them on the right road to a happier and more hopeful future.”
Thomas Walker, operational manager at Greater Manchester Mental Health, added: “This type of support can be lifesaving, a pivotal moment in someone’s recovery journey; and we are very pleased to offer it to Greater Manchester’s communities.”
The new service is building on the success of similar schemes that have already helped thousands of people. This includes the borough-based joint response services run by Pennine Care, Greater Manchester Mental Health, and Greater Manchester Police. And the railway-focused service run by Network Rail and British Transport Police in Liverpool
