Where can I access this service?
- Abbey View Medical Centre
- Fontmell Magna
- Marnhull Surgery
- Sturminster Newton Medical Centre
- Lyme Bay
- Barton House
- Ammonite
- Christchurch Medical Practice
- Farmhouse Surgery
- Highcliffe Medical Centre
- Stour Surgery
- Canford Heath Group Practice
- Birchwood Surgery
- The Harvey Practice
- Hadleigh Practice
- Royal Manor Health Centre
- Cross Road Surgery
- The Bridges Medical Centre
- Wyke Regis and Lanehouse Medical Practice
- Royal Crescent Surgery
- Dorchester Road Surgery
Triage Service Q&A
The triage service offers non-clinical support to patients over the age of 18 who are experiencing mental health challenges.
The triage practitioner will act as a first contact mental health worker and will conduct assessments and review people using pre-assessment questionnaires, then signpost them to relevant services.
You will receive a phone call from a triage practitioner, at the time given and usually this is on a private or withheld number. They will introduce themselves and explain their role and what you will be discussing.
The assessment is for 20 minutes and after introductions you will be given the time to explain your presenting problems, how long this has been going on for, how it is affecting your daily, social, work life, and looking at your diet and smoking/drinking status.
After this you will talk about any history of support you have had, if any, before looking at support that may be suitable for you and coming up with a plan together to support you on your journey. No advice or interventions will be given during your assessment, but you will be signposted information and how to access the pathways discussed.
There are many pathways we can signpost to i.e., Steps2Wellbeing, Local support groups and services like Livewell Dorset, The retreat, Help and Care, Counselling services, we can send details to crisis lines, or places like the Retreat, send referrals to the GP for clinical support like medication or fit notes. We have a wide range of knowledge on what is offered within Dorset and each practitioners information is tailored to each PCN.
You will see a trained Mental Health practitioner.
Triage is set up to act as a first contact service, usually we would see you at the start of your mental health recovery journey with the hope you wouldn’t need to return, because we have been able to determine the correct pathway for you.
- Reduce demand for GP appointments regarding mental health issues.
- Provide early access to patients for a greater depth appointment to explore concerns.
- Improve pathways into existing services.
- Support integration of services across PCNs and beyond (Help and Care, Live Well Dorset, S2W, Dorset Mind etc).
- Provide a safe, structured triage assessment to determine next steps for the patient.
The triage service is available to anyone over the age of 18 that is in need of non-clinical mental health support.
If you are experiencing mental health struggles and looking for services that may be able to support you in your recovery journey.
By calling your GP surgery and requesting support from the mental health triage practitioner, or by sending in an E-consult and stating you would like to speak with the mental health triage practitioner. A receptionist or clinician will then book you into the practitioner’s appointment ledger and you will be sent 2 pre-assessment questionnaires to be filled out before your telephone consultation.
Volunteer with us
Without our volunteers we simply couldn’t do what we do. Our volunteers are the backbone of our charity. Dorset Mind volunteers help us deliver our mental health support services across our vast county in a variety of roles across the charity. We offer voluntary positions that suit the times you’re able to commit – and your level of experience.
