" Crisis services work in partnership with other mental health services and wider community organisations, to ensure that service developments are accessible, responsive to community needs and complement existing services" | Crisis services should be an integral part of local service provision providing smooth transitions for service users between services and providing opportunities for practice development, sharing of skills, knowledge and specialist experience across services. Crisis services should forge partnerships, and work alongside and complement existing services. Joint working will ensure best use of available resources. Accessible up-to-date information on available services will increase awareness for services, users of services and carers on support and the role of the crisis service. | Protocols in place which: - Outline roles and responsibilities between the crisis service, and services which most often form the first point of contact e.g., Help Lines, GP's, Police and A&E departments;
- Ensure safe and supported transitions for the services user, including referral arrangements, sharing of information, and arrangements for transfers and follow up;
- Provide bridging support between the crisis service and the wider community, such as mentoring, befriending, mediation and advocacy services;
- Support service users to link with wider community resources, which provide physical healthcare support;
- -Where shared referral and assessment processes are not in place, arrangements in place to communicate information across services;
- Information exchange established by partner agencies covering referral criteria, hours of operation and contact details;
- Shared approach adopted for referral and assessment processes;
- Joint working with wider health and community organisations, through community partnership arrangements is promoted; and
- Attention given to anticipatory support (Woman's aid, drugs and alcohol services, welfare advice services etc).
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