Closer2Home
Closer2Home is an intensive home treatment service that supports children and young people with acute mental health problems in their homes across Dorset.
How we work
We will work in partnership with you and your family or carer to design the support you need. This is delivered as an intensive 12 to 14-week programme by our multi-disciplinary team, including consultant psychiatrists, mental health practitioners, community adolescent senior support workers, peer support workers and trainee nurse associates.
We will regularly review the care you are receiving to ensure that you have the appropriate support in place, and will work closely with other services involved in your care to ensure that all services are contributing to your care in a joined-up way.
We specialise in supporting young people who:
- repeatedly harm themselves and/or make suicidal gestures; and may also experience rapid or exaggerated changes in mood, and distress in relationships
- have complex eating disorders, especially anorexia nervosa, and require intensive treatment
- are currently in Tier 4 mental health services who could be discharged or moved closer to home if increased support was available
- The service operates 365 days a year from 8am-8pm, and the teams work together to deliver a specialist service to help young people remain at home who otherwise would have been admitted to an inpatient hospital.
Information for young people
What happens if you are referred to Closer2Home?
If it has been agreed that you could benefit from our service, you and your family/carers will be invited to a ‘welcome to Closer2Home’ appointment.
At this appointment we will talk about what is currently happening for you, what you are struggling with and what you would like help with. We will talk about what help the Closer2Home team can provide and then work with you, your family and other services involved in your care to develop a comprehensive care plan, including specific treatment options.
What you can expect from the service?
You will be involved in the planning and development of your care at every stage and there will be an appropriate treatment plan identified based on your needs. We are committed to treating you and your family with dignity and respect, working together to ensure quality care for you.
Why am I receiving support at home instead of in hospital?
Closer2Home offers intensive home treatment-based support and aims to ensure that you can continue to receive the support you need whilst still being able to stay at home, instead of going in to hospital.
We are also able to provide support to help your discharge from hospital where appropriate too. Having treatment at home will mean less disruption to your schooling, friendships and family relationships, as well as having the comfort of being in your own home.
We will regularly review the care you are receiving to ensure that you have the appropriate support in place. If your child or the person you care for has been referred to Closer2Home, you may find the following questions and answers helpful.
For parents/carers
Who is the service for?
Closer2Home is an intensive treatment service that supports children and young people with acute mental health problems in the homes as an alternative to being admitted to hospital. The service is only available in Dorset.
Who does the service work?
Our service is made up of a number of clinical and non-clinical professionals, who have a range of skills and expertise to be able to help your child or the person you care for. These include consultant psychiatrists, mental health practitioners, community adolescent senior support workers, peer support workers and trainee nurse associates
The team are highly trained with a range of skills and expertise required to effectively support the children and young people referred to the service, and to manage the complexity of their conditions.
How will Closer2Home work with other services that are supporting my young person too?
Closer2Home will work closely with other services involved in your young person’s care. There will be regular review meetings with you, your young person and any other services whilst you are receiving support from our team. This is to ensure that all services are contributing to the care of your young person in a joined-up way.
Why is my young person not being admitted to hospital?
Closer2Home offers intensive home treatment-based support and aims to ensure that your young person can continue to receive the support they need whilst still being able to remain at home, instead of being admitted to hospital. We are also able to provide support to help their discharge from hospital where appropriate.
Having treatment at home means there will be less disruption to your young person’s schooling, friendships and family relationships. It will also help them to feel more in control of their own life, as well as giving your family the reassurance of knowing that they are receiving the specialist support they need.
We will regularly review the care your young person is receiving in the community to ensure that they have the appropriate support in place.
What you can expect from the service
When your young person is referred to Closer2Home we will invite you to an initial welcome meeting, to assess your young person’s needs and give you more detail about our service and what you can expect.
You will be involved in the planning and development of your young person’s care at every stage and there will be an appropriate treatment pathway identified based on their individual needs.
We are committed to treating all young people and families with dignity and respect, working together to ensure quality care for your young person.