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Department of Health, Mental Health Policy Implementation Guide (2001)
Hours of operation:
• The service should be available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
• A shift system reflecting differing working patterns is required. A minimum of two trained case workers should be available at all times
• Evening/through the night working is usually an on-call system
• Medical on call rota should allow senior psychiatrist to undertake home visits 24 hours a day
• Assessment team for acute assessment of new referral (available 24 hours a day): two trained case workers and a senior psychiatrist
• Home visits to known service users (available 24 hours a day): two case workers(p.21)