FOI 2026/1729

This is a request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. I am seeking information about urgent and emergency services commissioned by your organisation for young people following self-harm.

Please could you provide the following information?

1. A list of all services/pilots/programmes commissioned or funded by your organisation that offer support, assessment or intervention to young people (aged 25 years or under) within 24 hours of a self-harm episode (defined according to NICE 2022: intentional self-poisoning or injury, irrespective of the apparent purpose).
2. For each service identified, please provide (where available):

1. Service name
2. Brief description of the service (e.g., aim and objectives)
3. Eligibility criteria (including age)
4. Access routes (e.g., telephone, walk-in service, referral from A&E/GP)
5. Service setting (e.g., online, community-based, hospital-based)
6. Availability (days and hours of operation)
7. Geographic area covered

I am specifically interested in services that respond within 24 hours of a self-harm episode, instead of longer-term or routine care (eligible services may include crisis teams, liaison psychiatry services, safe havens, crisis cafes, helplines and other urgent mental health support services). For the avoidance of doubt, I am looking for any services for individuals aged 25 years or under, including both specialist children/young people’s services and services primarily designed for adults that may also be accessed by this age group.

1. CYP Crisis Team services

All Age Mental Health Liaison Service
NHS 111 Mental Health Crisis Service
Mental Health Urgent Triage (MHUT/999)

Greater Manchester VCSE Crisis spaces

Safe Zone’s programme

2. Service Name

a) CYP Crisis Team Services

b) CYP crisis services are now one provision with three distinct pathways.

The Rapid Response pathway offers up to 72 hours of intensive crisis support in the community. Aiming to respond within 4 hours of referral, young people are supported to create immediate safety plans to reduce distress and avoid the need for attendance at A&E/expedite discharge from an acute setting.

The Home Treatment pathway offers 4-6 weeks of support in the community in order to avoid an admission to mental health inpatients or to help with the transition home following discharge from mental health inpatients.

The Paediatric support pathway will provide mental health assessments to young people who have been admitted to Paediatric wards, freeing up capacity in community CAMHS and ensuring young people can return home as soon as possible.

Services will also provide supported discharge to help with the transition home following discharge from a Paediatric or CYP inpatient MH Service.

The primary aim of the service is to provide:

• An assertive outreach model that aims to provide an alternative and/or step down from A&E where appropriate and safe with a view to reducing A&E attendances.
• Clinically trained staff to respond to CYP and those who care for them in crisis.
• To step down CYP from a Paediatric or CYP Inpatient MH Services in a timely manner and expedite discharge where appropriate with increased support in the community.
• Effective triage and assessment, utilising a single crisis access and referral point, directing resources at the most appropriate level based on individual need at the most appropriate time.
• A flexible, systemic approach, enabling professionals to step up and down where appropriate, working in close partnership with key stakeholders.
• Coverage and access to quality community interventions.
• Access and active signposting to Voluntary Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) sector agencies, promotion of self-help and online resources.

c) The service is accessible by the registered child population of the Greater Manchester Integrated Care Service (GM ICS) under 18 years of age who:

• Present in actual or emerging mental health crisis, or
• Require support in the community in order to avoid an admission to mental health inpatients or to help with the transition home following discharge from mental health inpatients.
• Where presenting behaviours are significantly impacting on their daily living, either at home and/or school in the presence of a mental health crisis.

d) Please see below list of referral routes:

• Community CAMHS and extended NHS MH Services
• NHS 111
• All Age Mental Health Liaison
• MH Provider 24/7 helplines
• GM Assessment and Inreach Centre (GMAIC)
• Paediatric wards
• Adult NHS MH Services (for 16&17 y/o)
• Safe Zones
• CAMHS medical on call rota

e) Rapid Response and Home Intensive Treatment Pathways – the Provider must ensure CYP, and their parents/carers are offered help in accessible and comfortable settings, making the best use of existing premises within the locality, including any education, local authority, youth-orientated centres and / or VCSE premises. This will include the CYP place of residence if appropriate.

Paediatric Support Pathway – the Provider will attend the paediatric setting within their locality to provide MH assessment to CYP admitted for a mental health crisis.

f) 7 days a week 8am to 10pm

g) Greater Manchester

a) All Age Mental Health Liaison Service

b) Mental Health Liaison Services are based within acute hospital settings (including Emergency Departments and inpatient wards) and provide timely mental health assessment, risk management, and support for individuals presenting with mental health needs, including self harm. The service supports safe discharge and onward referral to appropriate services.

c) Individuals presenting within acute hospitals with identified mental health needs. Access is based on clinical need and risk, which may include presentations following self harm.

d) Please see below list of referrals routes:

1. • Emergency Departments
   • Acute hospital wards
   • Internal referrals within hospital settings

e) Hospital based (Acute Trusts)

f) 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

g) Greater Manchester

1. NHS 111 Mental Health Crisis Service
2. Provides 24/7 access to urgent mental health support via NHS 111 option 2. The service offers telephone based triage, assessment and support for individuals experiencing mental health crisis, including onward referral to local crisis services where appropriate.
3. Individuals experiencing mental health crisis, including children and young people accessing support through NHS 111 option 2.
4. Please see below list of referral routes:
   • NHS 111 Option 2
   • Self-referral
   • Referrals/signposting from health professionals and partner agencies
5. Telephone based service with onward referral/signposting into local services where appropriate.
6. 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
7. Greater Manchester

1. Mental Health Urgent Triage (MHUT/999)
2. A clinical mental health triage service supporting ambulance and emergency service responses to individuals experiencing mental health crisis. The service provides urgent mental health, triage and support, including directing individuals to the most appropriate care pathway and reducing unnecessary conveyance to Emergency Departments where appropriate.
3. Individuals experiencing mental health crisis where emergency service response or urgent triage support is required.
4. Please see below list of referral routes:
   • NWAS/999 referrals
   • Emergency service referrals
   • Internal clinical escalation pathways
5. Integrated urgent care / ambulance service setting
6. 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
7. Greater Manchester

a. VCSE Crisis Spaces

b. Adult VCSE crisis spaces provide community based emotional wellbeing and crisis support as an alternative to Emergency Department or statutory mental health services where appropriate. Services aim to provide timely, non-clinical support, de-escalation, emotional support, signposting and onward referral for individuals experiencing mental health distress or crisis.

Provision and delivery models vary across Greater Manchester localities and may include crisis cafes, safe havens, drop in support and locality based wellbeing services delivered by VCSE organisations. These community-based services offer immediate support and de-escalation in a safe environment, a listening ear, crisis management, practical support and a quick referral to a mental health assessment if required. They’re an alternative to A&E and provide easier and more appropriate access for anyone experiencing emotional distress or a mental health crisis. The spaces can be accessed in each locality of Greater Manchester – Full list on NHSGM website. Mental health – community crisis drop in services | Greater Manchester Integrated Care Partnership

Community Crisis Spaces operate across all ten Greater Manchester boroughs, including:

• Rochdale and Middleton
• Oldham
• Stockport
• North Manchester
• Wigan
• Tameside
• Trafford
• Bury
• Salford
• Bolton
• Manchester Central
• Wythenshawe

Adults and young people experiencing emotional distress or mental health crisis. Eligibility criteria and age ranges vary by locality and commissioned VCSE model.

c. Please see below list of referral routes:

1. • Self referral
   • NHS and VCSE referrals
   • Crisis helplines
   • Community mental health and crisis pathways
   • Access routes vary by borough/locality

d. Community based VCSE settings including crisis cafes, safe havens and locality based support venues Crisis Spaces). Provision varies by borough/locality.

e. Varies by borough.

f. All services operate across Greater Manchester, although some delivery models and availability vary by locality/borough.

a. Safe Zone’s Programme

b. Aims and objectives

1. • Strengthen the relationship between VCSE and NHS pathways and services, as well as links to local authority services including early help, youth services and social care
   • Improve the mental health and resilience of young people across the whole of GM
   • Provide holistic crisis management support to families to meet their wider needs
   • Wrap around current NHS crisis services supporting point of access
   • Remove barriers to getting help and information
   • Support access to the most appropriate service(s)
   • Reduce pressure on local A&E services
   • Help relieve pressures on NHS care and partner systems as well as families, carers and schools
   • Ensure GM Coverage via a network of localised delivery that enables choice and allows prompt access through a variety of entry points
   • Provide choice to allow young people to engage in a Safe Zone offer within any GM locality, to eliminate barriers accessing provision e.g. safeguarding, Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE), privacy, stigma, geographical preference, travel restrictions, staying away from home or close to school

c. Please see below eligible criteria for this service:

1. • Children and young people from 0-17 years inclusive
   • Children and young people residing, or registered with a GP, in GM
   • Cared for young people staying within a GM based placement
   • Self-defined crisis

d. Referrals are currently exclusively via Crisis system partners – CAMHS, Crisis Service, A&E All Age Mental Health Liaison, NHS 111 Option 2. It is open to self re-referral but not self referral and not currently to Mental Health Support Teams.

e. There are five providers, and each has a locality base but offers support flexibility where and how a CYP wishes to be seen. Providers/localities are:

f. The service is open 8-8 x 7 days a week.

g. Greater Manchester