Michael Phillips Email & Phone Number

The Rapid Response Service is a new initiative to enhance clinical decision making with patients experiencing a mental health crisis. Currently all referrals for Home Treatment or inpatient admission receive a telephone triage via the South London and Maudsley Acute Referral Centre (ARC). The new Rapid Response service creates an opportunity for a face to face assessment should it be deemed appropriate by the Acute Referral Centre. The ARC will coordinate the Rapid Responder’s activity however the practitioner will be based within the local borough and be expected to liaise with the referring service. The purpose of the role is to ensure that all patients experiencing a mental health crisis receive a trusted, senior assessment at the earliest opportunity and that all possible alternatives to hospital admission have been thoroughly and carefully explored. Rapid responders have expert knowledge of alternatives to inpatient admission and be highly skilled in delivering brief interventions to manage the mental health crisis in the least restrictive way. Rapid Responders understand the principles of critical thinking and positive risk taking and are confident to apply these in practice. Rapid responders work within the available resources and are aware of current activity on the inpatient wards and the Home Treatment Service. As a band 7 practitioner rapid responders provide senior advice to the band 6 Home Treatment Duty Assessor on a shift by shift basis promoting safe and confident decision making.

Listed skills include Psychiatry, Mental Health, Nursing, Healthcare, and 1 others.