Greater Manchester Crisis Care Pathway

This is an exciting development that will make a real difference to children and young people who are experiencing a mental health crisis.  

A young person experiencing a crisis may be a threat to themselves or others through self-harm, suicide or aggression. Or they may be highly vulnerable to danger, for example via absconding, seeking help from people who may harm them, mis-using drugs and alcohol and behaving in a reckless, risk taking way.

Our aim

We aim to offer young people the right help, at the right time, by the right person, in the right place a 100 percent of the time.

This will dramatically improve their overall experience, along with those who care for them, and help to keep them out of hospital.

About the pathway

The pathway involves the development of new services, or improvements to existing services. Most of the services will be based in the community and care will be available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

All new developments will be based on evidence and feedback from children, young people and other key people. The seven key elements that make up the pathway are:

Medical on call

An on call rota will be set up to make sure medics are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Rapid response teams

They will provide risk assessment and management to young people who are experiencing a mental health crisis.

For further information on the rapid response teams see the Pennine Care website.

Safe zones

The safe zones will provide a safe space for young people in crisis to talk and receive support.

For further information on the safe zones see the Pennine Care website.

Crisis beds

Two beds will be allocated for young people experiencing a crisis. These will be available for 72 hours to allow time for a care plan to be developed.

Assessment centre

This will provide a central point for arranging mental health hospital-based care for a young person. It will help to bridge the gap between hospital and community child and adolescent mental health service teams to make sure young people experience joined up care.

Enhanced community child and adolescent mental health services

This will be an extension of the existing community child and adolescent mental health service - this could include, for example, evening and weekend appointments.

All age Rapid Assessment Interface and Discharge (RAID)

These teams will work in hospitals to provide rapid support to people of all ages experiencing a mental health crisis. This is a seperate project, but will link in with the pathway.

Who is leading the work?

The pathway is being delivered by Pennine Care, Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation TrustManchester University NHS Foundation Trust and North West Boroughs Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust.

To ensure the success of this new pathway, we will be working closely with lots of partner organisations in Greater Manchester. This includes other NHS trusts, local authorities, the private sector and the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector.

By sharing our knowledge, skills, experience and resources, we can develop new and innovative services that are easy for young people to access and better meet their needs.

Page last reviewed: 31/07/2023