Adult Mental Health Teams: First Response Team, Brentwood

Our Community Mental Health Teams are split into;

• First Response: Basildon
• Recovery and Wellbeing: Basildon, Brentwood, Canvey Island, Rayleigh, Southend-On-Sea, Grays
• Access and Assessment: Chelmsford, Harlow, Colchester

Newly referred patients will be seen for assessment by the First Response Team, who will treat patients for a period of up to six months.

People who require support for longer will be treated by the Recovery and Wellbeing Teams.

Access and Assessment This is the single point of entry into the Trust’s services for those 18 and over who are experiencing moderate to severe mental health conditions.

The First Response Team will provide assessment and short term treatment. They will see you within 14 days from referral from your GP, one day for urgent referrals.

This first face to face appointment will provide immediate access as required to treatment with a doctor, psychologist, or the crisis resolution home treatment team, without the need for multiple assessments.
The First Response Teams have daily support from Therapy for You, our talking therapy service, the Crisis Team and regular contact with the Drug and Alcohol Teams. Ensuring you have speedy access to specialist services when you need them. The team will be responsible for your care for up to six months dependent upon your rate of recovery.

Who is in the team?

The team is made up of psychiatrists, nurses, social workers, psychologists, occupational therapists and talking therapy practitioners who will be involved in your assessment as appropriate, ensuring treatment is started at the first assessment.

What happens after my treatment is finished?

Once your treatment is finished you will be discharged back to your GP. If at any point in the future you need more support, your GP can refer you back to us.
If you and the team feel that you need more support, you will be referred to the Recovery and Wellbeing Team or outpatient clinics for longer term care.

Please ask for a referral from one of the following:

• GP
• Primary care team member
• Social services
• Other components of the mental health services (e.g. CAMHS, Forensic services, psychology, and other specialised mental health teams).