The service is conducted in accordance with the HSE’s policy on Assisted Admissions and the Memorandum of understanding between the HSE and An Garda Siochana on assisted admissions and returns.
From 2016 to date, we have completed over 10000 admissions, which include s.13 admissions, s.27 returns, s.25 CAMHs admissions and s.20 transfers from one approved centre to another.
Among these are a number of international transfers, in co-operation with the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services and the Irish Air Corps which involve coordinating the support and assistance of authorities in foreign jurisdictions to ensure a seamless transfer.
The fundamental principles of the service are based around the commencement of treatment at the point of contact with the service user. Our highly skilled staff are trained in specific skills around negotiation and dialogue which means that each team member employs the highest levels of empathy and care.
The service is the only such service in the world to be accredited to Joint Commission International Standards (JCI) and operates to ISO 9000:2015 standards in terms of its systems and processes.
Technology and Resources
Our vehicles have state of the art computer aided dispatch capability to ensure accurate and efficient call out response. Each vehicle is tracked and is equipped with emergency medical equipment including emergency lighting, ergonomically designed seating, safety screens and an on-board interface which is encrypted but allows the operator access to file notes and real time information. Details of the deployment are recorded in real-time for audit purposes.
Vehicles
These specially adapted vehicles operate from locations in Dublin, Cork and Galway. Each vehicle is unmarked and designed to suit the service and is fully equipped to ensure the safety and comfort of both the service user and the team members.
The use of technology also allows the teams to make accurate risk assessments and amend these as required, this informs all stakeholders and facilitates clear and decisive decision making. The system also facilitates the collation of statistics and enables accurate reporting on a number of variables.
What is the Process?
The service operates on a 24/7 basis but is not an emergency service. We are obliged to provide a response within a 24 hour period of receipt of the request for an admission, with 70% of the cases completed within 6 hours of receipt of the appropriately completed forms. This is facilitated by access to trained teams around the country.
The rights of the service user are always respected and upheld.
The team is dispatched following a request by the Clinical Director /Consultant Psychiatrist of the Approved Centre according to the below pathway;
- Following receipt of an application, recommendation and basic risk assessment, a team is compiled. The makeup of the team is determined by the risk assessment and the specific requirements of the service user.
- In certain instances, the Clinical Director/Consultant Psychiatrist may request that the Assisted Admissions team are assisted by An Garda Siochana, pursuant to s.13(3) Mental Health Act, 2001. This occurs in about 30% of cases and in about 11% of these cases, the gardai have been required to assist or intervene in the admission.
- The assisted admissions training specifies that the team must only use their therapeutic and communication skills to encourage the service user to accompany them to the approved centre. In a very small number of cases, members of An Garda Siochana may be required to assist in the removal of the person. This has been necessary in about 4% of our cases.
In Conclusion
Allied Admissions operate a policy of open disclosure and all incidents must be reported, including near misses where they occur. The standard and ethos of an assisted admission is that it is conducted in a sensitive manner and the dignity of the individual is protected.
Where possible the process is planned in advance with the relevant stakeholders however in an emergency the Allied Admissions are in a position to offer ‘an as-and-when-required’ service within 24 hours or less.
From the initial contact with the service right through the admission, contact is maintained with the team in charge of the Assisted Admission of the Approved Centre so that at every step the care of the service user as central to our focus.
