New community crisis intervention service to be piloted in Derry

by Gareth Cross

A community Crisis Intervention Service is to be piloted in Derry for a six month period.

The information came to light at a meeting of Derry City and Strabane District Council's Health and Community Committee in Strabane on Thursday.

The creation of the new service was originally due to have been discussed during confidential business at the meeting.

However, SDLP Councillor Brian Tierney proposed that the matter be taken out of confidential business and be debated in public.

A council officer told the meeting: “It is anticipated that the pilot service will respond to individuals observed to be in distress and potentially vulnerable and who would in all likelihood come to significant harm through self-harm and suicidal behaviour.

"It is proposed that the service should provide a timely non-clinical community response to individuals experiencing social, emotional or situational crisis over the weekend period.

"It is envisaged that this service will be provided within a neutral venue with fair and equitable access.

"It will have a prominent community aspect and individuals of all ages can be brought to this central facility where they can be supported, receive comfort and individual staff will focus on de-escalation, risk assessment, stabilisation, reconnection e.g. with family/support or onward referral to statutory services as appropriate."

The University of Ulster has agreed to evaluate the success of the service and any future service would be dependent on the positive outcome of the pilot.

The local council will contribute £40,000 to the pilot scheme while the Western Trust will contribute £10,000.

The Derry News revealed in February that the service was being planned as a 'safe space for people with mental health problems'.

Cllr Tierney said that the financial contribution made by the trust to the scheme was 'not enough to say the least'.

He said that the service would take the pressure off Accident and Emergency and they were 'getting off quite lightly'.

Cllr Tierney told council that the service was 'an important issue and it's vitally important we get this right. Six months is not long enough'.

Committee chair DUP councillor Alderman Drew Thompson noted that the project had been brought forward by a motion by new Foyle MP Elisha McCallion.

Responding, Cllr Tierney said: “I can’t express how vital it is we get this right.”

He asked for a report outlining how the service would work.

Cllr Tierney told council 'there are so many vulnerable people we hope this service helps, it might look like we are settling'.

Independent councillor Darren O'Reilly said that he agreed a six month pilot was 'not sufficient'.

He said the service was 'really needed and we need to make sure people's aspirations aren't quelled'.

DUP councillor Alderman Hilary McClintock said that she understood the concerns but that the project 'has to start somewhere' and people were 'crying out' for the service.

Meanwhile, Independent councillor Gary Donnelly told council that the £50,000 being spent on the service was a 'meagre' amount of money and that 'a lot of people in the area are depending on the service'.

Cllr Donnelly said he was 'meeting people at the coal face and we can see the problems, I wouldn't want it to fail as it could have a huge effect on the community'.

Sinn Fein councillor Sandra Duffy said that a lot of people had worked hard and 'championed' for the service.

She said it had been hoped the service would be up and running before long but that the project faced 'challenges' and that they now 'have to get it right'.

Cllr Tierney called for a full paper detailing how the service would work to be brought before council.

A council officer told the meeting that they would bring back details of the service to council as soon as possible.