1. CMHT Professionals Psychiatrist
A psychiatrist is a medical doctor with special training in mental illnesses and emotional problems. Each team has a consultant who has completed their professional training. If you need to take medication, they will be responsible for arranging this. They may also have trained in psychotherapy. There may also be an “associate specialist” or “staff grade” doctor, who will have trained in psychiatry but who has not become a consultant. They often work with a doctor doing further training in psychiatry – a “specialty trainee” or “specialist registrar”.

2. Community Psychiatric Nurse (CPN)
CPNs work outside hospitals and visit clients in their own homes, out-patient departments or GP surgeries. They can help you to talk through problems and give practical advice and support. They can also give medicines and keep an eye on their effects. Nurse therapists have had extra training in particular problems and treatments, such as eating disorders or behaviour therapy.

3. Occupational Therapist (OT)
Occupational therapists help people to get back to doing the practical things of everyday life. They may help you:
to work out what you can and cannot do
with advice on where you could or should live
to find things to do that you want to do
to re-build your confidence
to become independent.
This can be through doing practical things in a relaxed environment, or talking with other people in groups.

4. Clinical Psychologist
Clinical psychologists have a degree in psychology. During another 3 years training in clinical psychology they work with clients and learn how to give psychological treatments. They will usually meet regularly with you for a number of sessions to talk through how you are feeling, thinking and behaving. Although cognitive behavioural therapy is a common approach, clinical psychologists may use psychodynamic and behavioural psychotherapies. They also help other members of the team to work psychologically with their clients.

5. Social Worker
Like other members of the team, social workers help people to talk through their problems, give them practical advice and emotional support and provide some psychological treatments. They are able to give expert practical help with money, housing problems and other entitlements. They can also signpost clients to other services or charities who can also provide help and support.

6. The Team Manager
The team manager will usually be a senior nurse or social worker. They often do not see clients themselves. They are responsible for:
the practical details of running the team
how the team works with other parts of the health service and other organisations
helping the team to develop
making sure that the team has high standards of practice.

7. Approved Mental Health Professional
The Approved Mental Health Professional will usually be a social worker, but can be any member of the team. They have had further training for assessing if someone needs to be taken to hospital using the Mental Health Act. They cannot decide to admit someone to hospital on their own, but will usually need the agreement of 2 independent doctors.

8. The key worker/care coordinator
One of the team members would usually be a key worker – it is often a social worker or nurse. This should be a helpful and supportive partnership. The key worker should:
get to know the client
learn about their difficulties
find out how the client sees their problems
know about their strengths
discuss any plans with them
give counselling, information and advice
make sure that everybody is working together properly
make sure that the client has a clear “care plan” about how they are going to be helped.

9. Homework for next week