Table 3 CORE CRT Fidelity Scale - item median scores and range of scores from pilot (n = 75)

Referrals and Access

1

The CRT responds quickly to new referrals

2

1–5

2

The CRT is easily accessible to all eligible referrers

4

2–5

3

The CRT accepts referrals from all sources

3

1–5

4

The CRT will consider working with anyone who would otherwise be admitted to adult acute psychiatric hospital

4

2–5

5

The CRT provides a 24 h, 7 day a week service

4

1–5

6

The CRT has a fully implemented “gatekeeping” role, assessing all patients before admission to acute psychiatric wards and deciding whether they are suitable for home treatment.

4

1–5

7

The CRT facilitates early discharge from hospital

3

1–5

8

The CRT provides explanation and direction to other services for service users, carers and referrers regarding referrals which are not accepted

4

1–5

9

The CRT responds to requests for help from service users and carers whom the CRT is currently supporting

3

1–5

10

The CRT is a distinct service which only provides crisis assessment and brief home treatment

4

1–5

Content and delivery of Care

11

The CRT assertively engages and comprehensively assesses all service users accepted for CRT support

4

1–5

12

The CRT provides clear information to service users and families about treatment plans and visits

3

1–5

13

The CRT closely involves and works with families and wider social networks in supporting service users

3

1–5

14

The CRT assesses carers’ needs and offers carers emotional and practical support

2

1–5

15

The CRT reviews, prescribes and delivers medication for all service users when needed

5

2–5

16

The CRT promotes service users’ and carers’ understanding of illness and medication and addresses concerns about medication

2

1–4

17

The CRT provides psychological interventions

1

1–5

18

The CRT considers and addresses service users’ physical health needs

2

1–5

19

The CRT helps service users with social and practical problems

5

1–5

20

The CRT provides individualised care

3

1–5

21

CRT staff visits are long enough to discuss service users’ and families’ concerns

3

1–5

22

The CRT prioritises good therapeutic relationships between staff and service users and carers

2

1–5

23

The CRT offers service users choice regarding location, timing and types of support

4

1–5

24

The CRT helps plan service users’ and service responses to future crises

1

1–4

25

The CRT plans aftercare with all service users

3

1–5

26

The CRT prioritises acceptability to service users in how CRT care is ended

3

1–5

Staffing and team procedures

27

The CRT has adequate staffing levels

5

1–5

28

The CRT has a psychiatrist or psychiatrists in the CRT team, with adequate staffing levels

5

1–5

29

The CRT is a full multi–disciplinary staff team

2

1–5

30

The CRT provides a thorough induction programme for new staff and ongoing training and supervision in core competencies for CRT staff

3

1–5

31

The CRT has comprehensive risk assessment and risk management procedures, including procedures for safeguarding children and vulnerable adults living with CRT service users

2

1–5

32

The CRT has systems to ensure the safety of CRT staff members

5

1–5

33

The CRT has effective record keeping and communication procedures to promote teamwork and information sharing between CRT staff

4

1–5

34

The CRT works effectively with other community services

3

1–5

35

The CRT takes account of equality and diversity in all aspects of service provision

4

1–5

36

The CRT has systems to provide consistency of staff and support to a service user during a period of CRT care

2

1–5

Timing and location of care

37

The CRT can access a range of crisis services to help provide an alternative to hospital admission for service users experiencing mental health crisis

1

1–5

38

The CRT provides frequent visits to service users

2

1–5

39

The CRT mostly assesses and supports service users in their home

5

2–5