Mental health services in Devon are provided by the NHS in partnership with Devon County Council and Torbay Council with support from voluntary and independent organisations. A person concerned about their mental health will usually visit their GP who may refer them to a specialist mental health service. Specialist mental services in Devon are provided by Devon Partnership NHS Trust who also provide learning disability services across Devon. Plymouth Teaching Primary Care Trust provide services in Plymouth.
Devon Partnership NHS Trust serves a population of approximately 860,000 people and employs around 2,500 staff. It was established in 2001 and brought together the mental health and learning disability services previously provided by six separate organisations. It works in partnership with Devon County Council and Torbay Care Trust to provide an integrated health and social care service and delivers services in the following main areas:
Adults of working age – The Trust provides inpatient services at most large hospitals in Devon. Wonford House Hospital is home to the Haldon Unit, a specialist eating disorders unit for the South West Peninsula. Assertive Outreach, Crisis Resolution, Early Intervention and Community Mental Health Teams provide community services to care for people at different stages of their mental health needs. Specialist Teams for Early Psychosis (STEP) provide assessment and a range of interventions for people between the ages of 14 - 35 experiencing the symptoms of psychosis for the first time. Vocational Rehabilitation services help people who have experienced mental illness to develop new skills for employment.
Older people – The Trust provides inpatient services such as assessment and treatment units, day hospitals and community services for older people who may suffer from organic or functional mental illness.
People with alcohol and substance misuse issues – The Trust's drug and alcohol services work with the EDP organisation, Police and Probation services to provide care for those affected by drug and alcohol addictions.
People with a learning disability – The Trust provides inpatient care that includes short-term assessment and treatment, specialist provision for autism and longer-term care. The Trust also provides specialist learning disability residential and nursing services as well as community care from the Community Learning Disability teams.
People who need forensic or secure mental health services - The Forensic mental health service is based at the 111 acre Langdon Hospital site, just outside Dawlish in South Devon, where there are 70 beds for men only, within four separate inpatient units. These units are supported by an Occupational Therapy department, vocational rehabilitation and other therapeutic and recreational facilities.
Children's services are provided by Devon Primary Care Trust.
The Devon Partnership NHS Trust is committed to championing the needs of service users and carers by participating in planning, development and partnership forums. It wants services to be fair, individual, safe, responsive, flexible, consistently high standard and reflect the diversity of Devon and Torbay's populations.
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