Question

If the client is not asking for help, then isn’t it better to look for  an alternative to a home visit in certain situations?

Problem description

In certain situations, especially when an adult person in not directly asking for help and he still lives with his parents, there is need for an alternative to a home visit. Hermes Plus has no rooms at its disposal at the head office, nor are there consultation rooms made available by partners or local administration in the living environment of the client

Impact - effect

Without such an alternative, it is very difficult to bring the care a close as possible to the client.  The presence of other persons during a home visit can make it extremely difficult for the professional to become a contact person for the client.  Other persons present do not always understand the need to create space for the client.  This is especially the case in situations where others (family, GP) appeal to the team to intervene. Often as a result of their concern (by excessive alcohol consumption, social withdrawal, delirious or incoherent discourse, manic behaviour…), and appealing to the team to avoid an admission to hospital

To do

In Lille-East the crisis team is doing home visits, but the team also has rooms at its disposal, made available by the respective municipalities.  Although we try to refer family members to Similes (family organisation) or to the Ambulatory MH-centres, it would sometimes be useful to meet the client at another location than at home, in presence of relatives or carers.  We are already doing this, for example by leaving the house and by accompanying the person for an appointment with his doctor or with a new partner in his network.  In addition, it seems interesting to ask future professional partners working in the living environment of the client, if they can make a room available for appointments with the person during the period of our intervention. Another possibility would be to make this request to the Public Centre for Social Welfare.  This could facilitate the motivation of the client to ask for help

Theme

Starting up and further development/deployment of mobile teams

Topic

critical success factors for starting up and further development/deployment

Reference -  contact

Steven Lambrecht, Suzy Van Hecke (Hermesplus, crisisteam)

Mobile team

2A

Project

Hermesplus

Intership abroad - place

Lille

Date

June 2013