Your health

Mental Health teams across Greater Glasgow and Clyde

In the mental health services you may be invited to meet with people in a variety of different settings or teams. Services are organised to be able to provide varying levels of intensity of intervention depending on how severe or complex your condition may be.

Here are some of the teams you may be invited to attend, what do they do and which ones are in your area:

Primary Care Mental Health Teams (PCMHT)

PCMHTs work with people who may be experiencing common mental health problems such as mild to moderate depression, anxiety or phobias. PCMHTs are usually staffed by mental health nurses, mental health practitioners and psychologists, and have strong links with GP surgeries. These teams usually provide psychological therapies, and work with people for up to a few months.

Access into a PCMHT can be through your GP or you could refer yourself.

East Dunbartonshire PCMHT

10 Saramago Street

G66 3BF

Tel: 0141 232 8203

East Renfrewshire (Bridges) PCMHT

Eastwood Health and Care Centre

G76 7HN

Tel: 0141 451 0590 (general enquiries only)

Glasgow North East PCMHT

1251 Duke St, Parkhead

G31 5NZ

Tel: Main Switchboard 0141 531 9000

Glasgow North West PCMHT

12 Sandy Road

G11 6HE

Tel: 0141 232 9270

Glasgow South (Wellbeing) PCMHT

26 Florence Street

G5 0YX

Tel: 0141 232 2555

Inverclyde (PCL) PCMHT

Crown House

30 King Street

PA15 1NL

Tel: 01475 558 000

Renfrewshire (Doing Well) PCMHT

12 Seedhill Road

PA1 1JS

Tel: 0141 849 2208

West Dunbartonshire PCMHT

Main Street

G83 0UA

Tel: 01389 828203

Community Mental Health Teams (CMHT)

CMHTs (also sometimes named resource centres) work with individuals experiencing mental health problems such as bipolar disorder, depression, severe anxiety or psychosis. CMHTs are staffed by mental health nurses, occupational therapists, psychiatrists and psychologists. These teams provide a variety of interventions, care and treatments, and can work with you as required to meet your needs.

Access into a CMHT comes by referral from your GP or Social Services.

East Renfrewshire Adult CMHT

Eastwood Health and Care Centre

Drumby Crescent

G76 7HN

Larkfield Centre (East Dunbartonshire)

10 Saramago Street

G66 3BF

Arran Resource Centre (Glasgow North East)

121 Orr Street

G40 2QP

Auchinlea House (Glasgow North East)

11 Auchinlea Road

G34 9QA

Springpark Resource Centre (Glasgow North East)

101 Denmark Street

G22 5EU

Arndale Resource Centre (Glasgow North West)

80-90 Kinfauns Drive

G15 7TS

Riverside Resource Centre (Glasgow North West)

547 Dumbarton Road

G11 6HE

Shawpark Resource Centre (Glasgow North West)

Maryhill Health and Care Centre

51 Galbraid avenue

G20 8FB

Brand Street Resource Centre (Glasgow South)

Festival Business Centre

G51 1DH

Florence Street Resource Centre (Glasgow South)

26 Florence Street

G5 0YX

Rossdale Resource Centre (Glasgow South)

12 Haughburn Road

G53 6AB

Stewart Centre (Glasgow South)

5 Ardencraig Road

G45 0EQ

Inverclyde Adult CMHT

Crown House

30 King Street

PA15 1NL

Paisley CMHT (Renfrewshire)

49 Neilston Road

PA2 6LY

West Renfrewshire CMHT (Renfrewshire)

12 Seedhill Road

PA1 1JS

Goldenhill Resource Centre (West Dunbartonshire)

199 Dumbarton Road

G81 4XJ

Riverview Resource Centre (West Dunbartonshire)

Dumbarton Joint Hospital

G82 5JA

Older Adult Mental Health Teams (OAMHT)

OAMHTs work with people who experience a range of mental health problems that are, by and large, associated with the later years in life such as dementia or depression that results from experiencing other problems such as loss (although in reality these problems can affect people throughout their lifespan). OAMHTs are largely staffed by mental health nurses, dementia care co-ordinators, psychiatrists, psychologists and occupational therapists.

Access to an OAMHT is by referral from your GP or a psychiatrist.

Woodlands Resource Centre (East Dunbartonshire)

15-17 Waterloo Close

G66

East Renfrewshire OAMHT

Eastwood Health and Care Centre

Drumby Crescent

G76 7HN

Belmont Centre (Glasgow North East)

300 Balgrayhill Road

G21 3UR

Parkview Resource Centre (Glasgow North East)

152 Wellshot Road

G32 7AX

Shawpark Resource Centre (Glasgow North West)

Kelvindale Road

G20 8JU

Glenkirk Resource Centre (Glasgow North East)

129 Drumchapel Road

G15 6PX

Shawmill Resource Centre (Glasgow South)

Pollokshaws Clinic

G43 1RR

Elderpark Clinic (Glasgow South)

20 Arklet Road

G51 3XR

Inverclyde OAMHT

Crown House

30 King Street

PA15 1NL

Renfrewshire OAMHT

Renfrewshire Older Adults Team

12 Seedhill Road

PA1 1JS

Cairnmhor Resource Centre (West Dunbartonshire)

Cardross Road

G82 5JA

Goldenhill OAMHT (West Dunbartonshire)

199 Dumbarton Road

G81 4XJ

Alcohol and Drugs Recovery Services

Alcohol and Drug Recovery Services work with people who are experiencing problems related to their alcohol and/or drug use. These specialist services aim to help people reduce the harm of their experiences and to control their alcohol and/or drug use, and they also understand the kind of difficulties that often go hand in hand with an alcohol or drug problem. They offer a range of health and social care services including practical support, advice and care and treatment. The services you will be offered will be tailored to your particular needs and goals and may include: information and harm reduction advice; detoxification programmes and medication to assist with alcohol or drug dependency; mental health assessment and intervention; physical health assessment; psychological therapies; recovery-focused services; and access, where appropriate, to residential services. Staff working in the Alcohol and Drug Recovery Services includes nurses, social care workers, doctors, psychologists and occupational therapists.

You can access Alcohol and Drug Recovery Services by referring yourself directly or by being referred by your GP.

East Dunbartonshire Alcohol & Drugs Service

Kirkintilloch Health and Care Centre

10 Saramago Street

Kirkintilloch, G66 3BQ

Tel: 0141 232 8211

East Renfrewshire Addiction Team

St Andrews House

113 Cross Arthurlie Street

Barrhead, G78 1EE

Tel: 0141 577 4685

Glasgow North East Drug & Alcohol Recovery Services

The Newlands Centre

871 Springfield Road

Parkhead, G31 4HZ

Tel: 0141 565 0200

Glasgow North East Drug & Alcohol Recovery Services

Westwood House

1250 Westerhouse Road

Easterhouse, G34 9EA

Tel: 0141 276 3420

Glasgow North West Drug & Alcohol Recovery Services

7 Closeburn Street

Possil, G22 5JZ

Tel: 0141 276 4580

Glasgow North West Drug & Alcohol Recovery Services

7-19 Hecla Square

Drumchapel, G15 8NH

Tel: 0141 276 4330

Glasgow North West Drug & Alcohol Recovery Services

Possilpark Health & Care Centre

99 Saracen Street

Possil, G22 5AP

Tel: 0141 800 0670

Glasgow South Drug & Alcohol Recovery Services

Twomax Building

187 Old Rutherglen road

Gorbals, G5 0RE

Tel: 0141 420 8100

Glasgow South Drug & Alcohol Recovery Services

Pavilion One, Rowan Business Park

5 Ardlaw Street

Govan, G51 3RR

Tel: 0141 276 8740

Glasgow South Drug & Alcohol Recovery Services

130 Langton Road

Greater Pollok, G53 5DP

Tel: 0141 276 3010

Glasgow South Drug & Alcohol Recovery Services

10 Ardencraig Place

Castlemilk, G45 9US

Tel: 0141 287 6188

Inverclyde Integrated Alcohol Service

Wellpark Centre

30 Regent Street

Greenock, PA15 4PB

Tel: 01475 715 353

Inverclyde Integrated Drug Service

Cathcart Centre

128 Cathcart Street

Greenock, PA15 1BQ

Tel: 01475 499 000

Renfrewshire Integrated Alcohol and Drug teams

Back Sneddon Centre

20 Back Sneddon Street

Paisley

PA3 2DJ

Tel: 0300 300 1380

West Dunbartonshire Community Addiction Team (Clydebank)

New address:

Goldenhill Resource Centre

199 Dumbarton Road

Clydebank

G81 4XJ

New telephone: 0141 941 4400 – option 3

West Dunbartonshire Community Addiction Team (Dumbarton)

Dumbarton joint Hospital

Cardross Road

Dumbarton

Tel: 01389 812 018

Specialist services

There are a range of services that provide care for specialised presentations, these include psychotherapy, forensic services, trauma services, child & adolescent mental health services, and eating disorders service. Most of these services require a specialist assessment before a referral can take place.

Inpatient services

For some people, admission to hospital will aid their recovery. In this case, hospital staff will work closely with you, your family and community services to ensure that your stay in hospital is as beneficial and as short as possible. The majority of people will not need hospital admission.

Some of the people you may meet in the mental health services

In the mental health services you may meet with a variety of people from a range of professions who all work together to provide the best quality of care to you or someone you care for or care about.

Here are some of the people you might meet, and what they do:

Mental Health Nurse

Mental health nurses are there to get to know you and understand your needs. Their role is to offer you advice and support. They will work closely with you, your carers and other members of the team to plan your care. Their training covers the whole range of mental health issues across all ages. They can help you to set goals and plan for the future, assist you to manage your medication or provide brief psychological interventions.

The mental health nurses in the community is often referred to as a Community Psychiatric Nurse or more commonly as a CPN.

Psychiatrist

A psychiatrist is a doctor who specialises in mental health. A consultant is the most senior psychiatrist. In order to assess your mental health, they will ask you about your background and previous treatment, as well as your current situation. They will discuss the results of your assessment and diagnosis with you. They will discuss with you what tests or treatments you might need, and can prescribe medication if required. They may also want to meet with you again to review the effects of any treatments.

Psychologist

Psychologists are trained to understand how people think, feel and behave. They have knowledge and experience of a range of psychological therapies. The role of the psychologist is to help you to improve your mental health, wellbeing and quality of life. If you are referred to a psychologist, they will talk with you about your feelings, thoughts and behaviour. They will help you to understand the problems you are experiencing, and work with you to identify ways you can deal with these problems. A psychologist does not prescribe medication.

Occupational therapist (OT)

An occupational therapist will help you to overcome physical and psychological barriers, enabling you to carry out daily activities and tasks that maintain health and wellbeing. This might include preparing meals, visiting the shops, or continuing with a favourite leisure activity. An OT can assist you with learning new skills to help you to get the most from life.

Social worker

A social worker will find out what your welfare needs are and tell you how they can help. They can give you and your family the information and support that you may need to deal with a range of issues such as housing, benefits, education, child care and respite care. They can also assist with assessing a variety of social, accommodation and financial needs.

Types of mental health interventions you may be offered

In the mental health services, you may be offered a range of interventions to meet your particular needs and circumstance.

Here are some of the interventions and treatment approaches you might be offered:

Behavioural Activation

A structured approach that encourages you to take part in activities you feel are positive rather than withdrawal and inactivity. It aims to increase how constructive you feel in your life and also how much pleasure you experience as a result of activity.. Behaviour is learned and behavioural activation therefore aims to change the way you feel by changing what you do.

Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT)

CBT is a treatment that focuses on our emotions, thoughts and behaviours. How we think and behave has an effect on their emotions and vice versa and so changing ways of thinking and behaving will help you to change how you are feeling. Your therapist will work with you to identify and alter your negative thoughts, assumptions and beliefs so that you are able to have a more balanced perspective on yourself, others and your life. As a result your difficulties will be significantly improved.

Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT)

IPT is a therapy that works by discussing difficulties you are having in the light of key relationships in your life. It is especially effective for those suffering from depression where the trigger may be in the interpersonal world and can include transitions; significant losses and interpersonal conflict. The IPT therapist will help you discover key elements of your relationships that may benefit from some changes and in turn you will see an improvement in your mood and general well-being.

Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT)

Mindfulness has been defined as paying attention in a particular way: on purpose, in the present moment, and non-judgmentally (in contrast to being absorbed in ruminating on the past or future). It helps us learn how to bring awareness to our thoughts, emotions, physical sensations and behaviours; encouraging us to recognise and respond to early signs of difficulties. It has been shown to be particularly helpful for those who have suffered from depression in the past. MBCT is often taught in a group course format.

Motivational Interviewing (MI)

Motivational Interviewing is a style of interaction based upon psychological principles that aim to help you to change particular behaviours that will help your health, such as stopping drinking or improving your way of managing how you deal with a chronic health problem e.g. asthma or diabetes. Your therapist will work with you to explore various motivational aspects of current and potential future behaviours and actions.

Psycho-education

These approaches involve helping you learn about your difficulties and some straightforward steps you can take to improve things for yourself. Psycho-education is delivered to an individual or in a group approach like a ‘training course’. It is also available as a self-help resource online. The courses and resources may provide all the help you need or may be the first part of a broader treatment programme.

BSL – Mental Health Teams

Mental Health – Primary Care Mental Health Team (PCMHT)

NHSGG&C BSL A-Z: Mental Health – Primary Care Mental Health Team (PCMHT)

PCMHTs work with people who may be experiencing common mental health problems such as moderate to severe depression, anxiety or phobias. PCMHTs are usually staffed by mental health nurses, mental health practitioners, and psychologists, and have strong links with GP surgeries. These teams usually provide psychological therapies, and work with people for up to a few months.

Access to a PCMHT can be through your GP or you could refer yourself.

Community Mental Health Team (CMHT)

NHSGG&C BSL A-Z: Mental Health – Community Mental Health Team (CMHT)

CMHTs work with individuals experiencing significant mental health problems such as bipolar disorder, depression, severe anxiety or psychosis. CMHTs are staffed by mental health nurses, occupational therapists, psychiatrists and psychologists. These teams provide a variety of interventions, care and treatments, and can work with you as required to meet your need.

Multi-Disciplinary Team

NHSGG&C BSL A-Z: Mental Health – Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT)

A range of health and social care staff who work together in providing the necessary care and treatment. This can be either in the community or in hospital. It can include nurses, psychologists, doctors, occupational therapists, dieticians, physiotherapists and social workers

Please note that this video is from a range of BSL videos published by NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde.

BSL – Mental Health Workers

Psychiatrist

NHSGG&C BSL A-Z: Mental Health – Psychiatrist

Consultant psychiatrists have the overall responsibility for diagnosing a mental health condition and prescribing treatment. Psychiatrists are qualified medical doctors who specialise in mental health conditions.

Social Worker

NHSGG&C BSL A-Z: Mental Health – Social Worker

A professional who can help to assist with practical aspects of life and may have had training in providing psychological assistance. Social workers work collaboratively with various organisations, such as local authorities and the NHS, who provide support.

Community Psychiatric Nurse (CPN)

NHSGG&C BSL A-Z: Mental Health – Community Psychiatric Nurse (CPN)

Registered nurses who are trained in mental health and can give long-term support to those living in the community.

Counsellor/Psychotherapist

NHSGG&C BSL A-Z: Mental Health – Counsellor/Psychotherapist

Counselors or Psychotherapists work with individuals, couples, families and groups to help them overcome a range of psychological and emotional issues. They use personal treatment plans and a variety of non-medical treatments to address the client’s thought processes, feelings and behavior, understand inner conflicts and find new ways to alleviate and deal with distress.

Occupational Therapist

NHSGG&C BSL A-Z: Mental Health – Occupational Therapist

Occupational Therapists help people of all ages who have physical, psychological or social problems. This could be help with shopping, brushing their teeth, or helping to assist with a person’s child care, professional development or attending social activities

Keyworker

NHSGG&C BSL A-Z: Mental Health – Keyworker

A ward nurse who is responsible for implementing the care plan and often develops reports regarding your progress.

General Practitioner (GP)

NHSGG&C BSL A-Z: Mental Health – General Practitioner

GPs are family doctors who provide general health services to a local community. They are usually based in a GP surgery or practice and are often the first place people go with a health concern.

Please note that this video is from a range of BSL videos published by NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde.

BSL – Mental Health Interventions

Art Therapy

NHSGG&C BSL A-Z: Mental Health – Art Therapy

A form of psychotherapy that uses art media as its primary mode of communication.

Assessment

NHSGG&C BSL A-Z: Mental Health – Assessment

When someone is unwell, health care professionals meet with the person to talk to them and find out more about their symptoms so they can make a diagnosis and plan treatments. This is called an assessment. Family members should be involved in assessments, unless the person who is unwell says he or she does not want that.

Care Plan

NHSGG&C BSL A-Z: Mental Health – Care Plan

Mental health professionals draw up a care plan with someone when they first start offering them support, after they have assessed what someone’s needs are and what is the best package of help they can offer. People should be given a copy of their care plan and it should be reviewed regularly. Service users, and their families and carers, can be involved in the discussion of what the right care plan is.

Care Programme Approach (CPA)

NHSGG&C BSL A-Z: Mental Health – Care Programme Approach (CPA)

A way of co-ordinating the care and treatment that a person with significant mental health problems receives from various health and social care services. This is used in specific circumstances for a small number of individuals with complex needs when there are several agencies involved in their care.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

NHSGG&C BSL A-Z: Mental Health – Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

Is a type of psychological or talking therapy. It can be a treatment for different mental health problems. It is usually structured and time-limited. It aims to help you understand how your problems began and what keeps them going. CBT works by helping you to link the way that you think (your thoughts, beliefs and assumptions), with how you feel (your emotions) and what you do (your behaviour). CBT has been shown to help with many different types of problems. These include: anxiety, depression, panic, phobias, stress, bulimia, obsessive compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, bipolar disorder and psychosis. CBT may also help if you have difficulties with anger, a low opinion of yourself or physical health problems, like pain or fatigue.

Counselling

NHSGG&C BSL A-Z: Mental Health – Counselling

Counselling is a type of talking therapy that involves a trained therapist listening to you and helping you find ways to deal with emotional issues.

Group Therapy

NHSGG&C BSL A-Z: Mental Health – Group Therapy

Group therapy is a form of talking therapy where a group of individuals meet regularly with a therapist to help each other to discuss their individual struggles and ways to tackle them.

Inpatient

NHSGG&C BSL A-Z: Mental Health – Inpatient

Most people with mental health problems receive the care and treatment they need while living in the community. But sometimes when a person is very unwell or is potentially at risk to themselves or to others, they may need treatment in hospital for a period of time.

Wellness or Recovery Plan

NHSGG&C BSL A-Z: Mental Health – Wellness or Recovery Plan

A mental health recovery plan is a way to be actively involved in recovering from mental health problems and take control of your mental health, so you can work toward achieving treatment and recovery goals. It helps you look at ways of staying well and make best use of your supports.

Please note that this video is from a range of BSL videos published by NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde.

There are six Health and Social Care Partnerships (HSCP) across the Greater Glasgow and Clyde area, who manage a wide range of local health and social care services delivered in health centres, clinics, schools and homes.

East Dunbartonshire HSCP – Bearsden, Milngavies, Torrance, Cadder, Campsie Glen, Kikintilloch and Twechar
East Renfrewshire HSCP – Neilston, Uplawmoor Newton Mearns, Barrhead, Giffnock, Stamperland,Clarkston, Eaglesham
Inverclyde HSCP – Greenock, Inverkip, Gourock, Port Glasgow, Kilmacolm, Quarriers Village, Wemyss Bay
Glasgow City HSCP – Linn, Newlands, Greater pollok, Craigton, Govan, Pollokshields, Langside, Southside, Calton, Anderston, Hillhead, Partick, Scotstoun, Anniesland, Drumchapel, Maryhill, Kelvin, Springburn, Shettleston, Bailleston, Provan, Easterhouse
Renfrewshire HSCP – Paisley, Renfrew, Erskine, Bishopton, Lochwinnoch, Johnstone, Bridge of Weir
West Dunbartonshire HSCP – Balloch, Renton, Bellsmyre, Alexandria, Gartochan, Bowling, Old Kilpatrick, Clydebank

Heads Up
British Sign Language

Alcohol and
Drug Problems

Autism Spectrum
Disorder

Bereavement

Bipolar Disorder

Borderline Personality Disorder

Dementia

Depression and Anxiety

Eating Disorder

Generalised Anxiety Disorder

Insomnia

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

Panic Disorder

Peri-natal Depression

Phobias

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

Psychosis

Self-Esteem

Stress

Suicide and Self Harm

The Equality & Human Rights Team offers a range of training opportunities for staff members.

In addition to our scheduled training courses, we make every effort to respond to specific requests from staff groups. In order to ensure that we have sufficient information to do this, please consider the following before completing the request form.

Purpose of Training

It is important to be clear about what you wish to achieve with your training request, such as policy compliance, service improvement or staff development. Please ensure training is:

• Approved via relevant NHSGGC management structures

• Documented in line with governance standards

• Linked to Staff PDPs and eKSF updates

Please note that training should not replace relevant HR practice and procedure. If there are concerns about conduct or live investigations outstanding, this is a matter for the Human Resources Department. For further information, go to the HR Connect Equality, Diversity and Inclusion webpage.

Training Content

You will be asked to specify the topics, competencies or behaviours to be covered in your training. For example: EQIA Lead Reviewer Training; Human Library; Equality Act overview; Communication Support; BSL Act; Anti-racism Plan.

For further information about our current equalities work, legislation and resources, please go to NHSGGC – Equalities in Health

Location & Registration

It is the requester’s responsibility to provide a suitable venue for training to be delivered. Please ensure availability of equipment and facilities for the agreed training delivery, such as a projector for PowerPoint or breakout space as required. Please note it is also the requester’s responsibility to manage course registration.

Evaluation

Course evaluation should be in place,such aspre/post assessments, feedback forms, observation or peer review.

Submit request

To submit a training request, please complete the online form. A member of the Equality & Human Rights Team will be in touch to discuss your request.

We want to ensure that all our patients have access to the right care in the right place at the right time. This means making sure that everyone understands the range of services available in order to decide what best meets their needs.

Many patients with protected characteristics can experience barriers to receiving the care they need. These include a lack of accessible information explaining the emergency care system, difficulties understanding and working their way through the appointments system and problems managing online or telephone support.

A&E departments are often the only service people are aware of that they can walk into to get help when they are worried and in pain. This means that they are often in the wrong place to get the proper care for their ailment. It is therefore vital to provide accessible information and routes to care for those who don’t know the system.

Working with protected characteristic groups

We are liaising with our emergency departments and charities to create opportunities to engage directly with protected characteristic groups. We will work with them to –

Create accessible resources that describe routes into our services and the alternatives to emergency care
Capture people’s experiences of accessing the right care in the right place to use as case studies
Help us support our emergency services to meet the needs of people with protected characteristics

Digital solutions are making access to health care easier for many people. However, for some people, they are creating additional barrier to accessing care.

Also, where traditional routes into services are being replaced by digital ones, there may be a negative impact on people with certain protected characteristics – such as age, disability and race.

For example Glasgow Disability Alliance’s ‘Disabled People’s Mental Health Matters’ report (2021) highlighted that of the 2,500 disabled people involved, 1,500 faced digital exclusion with no access to devices, Wi-Fi or lacking the confidence to use it.

We want to ensure that these changes to the way patients access care will not disadvantage anyone who is digitally excluded.
To this end, we are assessing the impact of all proposed service redesigns where digital solutions feature as alternatives to pre-existing care pathways. We are also engaging with protected characteristic groups to better understand their experience of using digital routes into services and will make appropriate adjustments.

NHSGGC is committed to improving the experiences and health outcomes for patients with a learning disability (LD).

Our Acute Learning Disability and Autism Group leads this programme of activity and is working with local LD groups, patients, carers and families to improve hospital inpatient experiences.

This work includes a focus on –

Improved admission process, including providing thorough background information/ hospital passport
Reduced length of stay
Reduced hospital complications
Greater Carer involvement.

Autistic and Neurodivergent people experience some of the greatest inequalities in society

It is estimated that one in 100 people in Scotland are Autistic or Neurodivergent. There are many reasons why Autistic people may face barriers in accessing healthcare, including the following –

Executive functioning differences such as working memory, decision making and time management can lead to professionals to perceive Autistic people as being unwilling to engage with services or not requiring them.
Autistic people are very likely to experience the sensory world in a different way and healthcare environments have unusual smells, noises and lighting. These sensory differences may also be increased if the person is anxious or stressed.
A lack of understanding and stigma felt by Autistic people when engaging with services can lead to attempts to mask autistic symptoms which can lead to poor patient experience.

Everyone’s experience of being autistic is different, so it’s vital that all our staff understand the importance of a person-centred approach. There are lots of different kinds of reasonable adjustments that can be put in place which could greatly improve patient experience.

Activities include –

The introduction of an Autism Passport that can be shared between patients and staff. This will explain what should be considered when delivering care
Supporting Autistic and Neurodivergent people to sense check services as part of our Disability Discrimination Audits
The production of an Autism and Neurodivergence patient pathway app to provide easy access, useful information for staff.

A Power of Attorney (PoA) is a legal document which gives someone else the authority to make decisions on your behalf if you are unable to do so. This person is called your attorney. You can ask anybody that you trust to be your attorney.

Watch our video below to find out why it’s important to have a Power of Attorney in place.

FAQs

In this video we answer some of the common questions that people have about Power of Attorney.

You can watch a recording of an information session on Power of Attorney or check out the FAQs below.

The information covered in this session is also available on our Power of Attorney Microsoft SWAY

You can find more information about Power of Attorney on the Citizens Advice Scotland website or the Office of the Public Guardian.

Power of Attorney Overview

What is a Power of Attorney (PoA)?

A Power of Attorney (PoA) is a legal document that lets someone else make decisions for you if you can’t do it yourself. The person you choose to make these decisions is called your “attorney.” You can ask anyone you trust to be your attorney.

There are two main types of Power of Attorney:

Welfare Power of Attorney – This allows someone to make decisions about your health and well-being.
Financial Power of Attorney – This allows someone to make financial decisions for you.

You can choose different people for each type of PoA, or the same person can handle both. If you have more than one attorney, you can choose if they have to make decisions together or can make them on their own.

You decide when your Financial Power of Attorney starts, but your Welfare Power of Attorney will only begin if you can no longer make decisions yourself. This is sometimes called “losing capacity”.

I’m anxious about giving someone these powers as it might take away my decision making ability.

Choosing someone you trust to be your Attorney is critical. It doesn’t automatically need to be family member – you could pick a friend, a lawyer or an advocate (although that may involve additional costs).

You can also add in a safety mechanism such as a clinical sign off for lack of capacity for your Welfare PoA. This means that you will still be in control of making all decision until you are no longer able to.

You can also choose when you want your attorey to start helping with finanical issues, or when they should stop.

Remember if you have concerns you can report these to the Office of the Public Guardian.

I already have a PoA. Do I need to do anything else?

After setting up your PoA, it’s important to talk with your attorney so they understand what you want if you can’t make decisions for yourself later on. You might want to write down your wishes in a Future Care Plan.

Let your doctors and health professionals know who your attorney is, so they can contact them if needed.

The Power of Attorney Process

How do I get a PoA?

To get a PoA, you need to choose someone to act on your behalf while you are still able to make decisions.

Here’s how to get started:

Talk to people close to you about why you want a PoA.
Decide who will be your attorney. You can choose one person for welfare decisions and another for financial decisions.
Once you’ve chosen, you need to register the papers with the Office of the Public Guardian.

Because it’s an important legal document, it’s a good idea to get help from a lawyer or solicitor to make sure everything is done properly.

Can an urgent PoA be organised for someone who is in hospital and approaching the end of their life?

A solicitor could be instructed to come to the hospital – this can happen pretty quickly. There may be a conversation between the solicitor and the medical team about who should sign the capacity certificate. Then an application needs to be made to fast track the PoA.

However, you need to be realistic, about the time left that someone has to live.

Another option would be a Future Care Plan; this would be beneficial so that everyone can contribute to the conversation. This means even if the PoA does not happen, the professionals will have a guide on the person’s wishes, and family/friends have a chance to discuss this with the person as well.

Consider if a solicitor could also complete a Will at the same time (this can happen at any time however the person must still have capacity to sign the document).

Can a PoA to be completed online, or does it always have to go through a solicitor or lawyer?

You can do it yourself – you may find a template online or stationary firms e.g. a pack from WH Smiths (check that it is Scottish). It is slightly cheaper if you go through a firm online (do your research) but still incurs a fee. In all instances you will need to pay for a certificate of capacity (GP/solicitor) and the registration fee with the Office of Public Guardian.

Where do you apply for PoA if you would like to do it face to face in NHSGGC area?

You can use Law Society of Scotland website to find a solicitor.

Who can witness a PoA?

An impartial person must witness you and your Attorneys signing of your PoA. You cannot witness your Attorneys’ signatures, and they cannot witness yours.

How do I check if someone has a registered PoA?

Anyone can check on the Public Register Scotland: Public registers (publicguardian-scotland.gov.uk), there are 2 different emails for enquiries – one for PoA and one for Guardianship.

Can the PoA document be amended?

There are lots of changes you must tell the Office of the Public Guardian about. There may be costs associated with this. Visit their webpages for more information.

If you need to update either the grantor or attorney’s address then you can do this via a form sent to the Office of the Public Guardian.

If you wish to change who your Attorney is then you will likely need to make a new PoA. This will come with an additional cost.

How often is a PoA Reviewed?

Appointment as Attorney will continue until:

if concerns have been raised – the Office of Public Guardian will investigate
the Granter revokes/cancels the PoA
the Attorney resigns
the Granter dies
bankruptcy of the Attorney

Being An Attorney

Can my family make decisions on my behalf without a PoA?

Many people think that if they lose the ability to make decisions, their family can automatically help. But unless you’ve set up a PoA, your family can’t make decisions for you.

Without a PoA, the court will have to choose someone to be your “Guardian,” which can take a long time and be expensive.

Carer Information Scotland have more information on the guardian process.

Who can be my Attorney?

You can choose anyone to be your Attorney so long as they are over 16. You can appoint either individuals or an organisation, such as a firm of solicitors, as your continuing (financial) attorney. However, individuals only may be appointed as welfare attorneys. The law says that someone who is currently declared as bankrupt cannot be a continuing attorney.

What if someone has no family or friends to appoint as an Attorney?

Anyone can be appointed to act as your Attorney. Some solicitors may be willing to be an Attorney, however there would be a fee for this. It is unlikely that a Health or Social Care professional could be your Attorney, instead they may need to apply to become your Guardian which is a different process.

Does the PoA document need to be formally activated with the Office of Public Guardian when you start acting as an Attorney?

No. There is no requirement to notify them when you begin exercising your powers. Attorneys are responsible for informing relevant individual authorities e.g. banks, care homes etc. when they start acting on behalf of the Granter. More information can be found in the factsheet for attorneys.

Does the Attorney receive a copy of the documents?

A copy of the document is sent to the person who has applied for the POA (the granter) – it would be up to the person/family to make a copy of the document for the Attorney.

In the case where a number of people have been appointed someone’s attorney e.g. your partner, brother and child and there was a disagreement amongst this group, how do we resolve this?

Check the PoA Document – the first step is to review the PoA document itself. It may:

Specify how decisions should be made (e.g. jointly or independently).
Appoint a lead attorney or provide a dispute resolution mechanism.
Include guidance or preferences from the granter (the person who granted the PoA).

Seek Legal Advice – it’s wise to consult a solicitor experienced in PoA and adult incapacity law. They can:

Clarify legal responsibilities
Help interpret the PoA document
Advise on next steps

Involve the Office of the Public Guardian (Scotland) -the Office of the Public Guardian oversees attorneys and can investigate concerns about how attorneys are acting. They can:

Refer serious matters to the court.
Offer guidance
Investigate complaints

If I am someone’s Attorney, can I access their medical records?

The powers that an Attorney has are detailed in the PoA document. If they have Welfare PoA and the person has lost capacity, the Attorney will be involved in discussion around what is going on, conditions, results etc. You cannot access medical records.

Can an Attorney assist with Will writing if they do not benefit from the person’s Will?

We would suggest engaging a solicitor to draft the Will and this should be done when person has capacity but there is no reason why you cannot support someone to do this, even if you may be a beneficiary.

Can an Attorney amend a Will?

It is not possible in Scotland for an Attorney to change someone’s Will, irrespective of whether the Attorney is trying to act in accordance with the person’s wishes and in good faith.

Does my PoA still help after the person has passed away when dealing with arrangements and e.g. the bank etc?

No, when person dies the PoA stops, it is only active when the person is alive. It is Important for people to arrange a Will and appoint an Executor.

Information on Capacity

What does it mean to “lose capacity”?

“Losing capacity” means you can no longer look after your own financial and personal matters. This can happen because of health problems like dementia, a stroke, or other conditions. In Scotland, a person is an adult at 16 and can make their own decisions unless a doctor says they can’t.

Signs that someone has lost capacity include:

Not being able to tell other people about the decisions they want made
Forgetting decisions
Not being able to act on decisions
Not being able to understand or make decisions

If someone has already lost capacity can they get a PoA?

If someone has lost capacity, then they cannot make a PoA. Instead, someone will need to apply for Guardianship – this could be a friend, family member or the Local Authority.

Supporting adults with Learning Disabilities: some adults are assessed as not having capacity due to their condition, can they choose a PoA or is this left to the Local Authority to manage if they have no family?

If assessed as not having capacity, and there is family, they can seek Guardianship not PoA, Local Authorities can also apply for Guardianship.

If the applicant has early dementia or Alzheimer’s or indeed any cognitive impairment can PoA still be applied for?

Depends on the level of capacity – mental capacity is the ability to make an informed decision based on understanding a situation, the options available, and the consequences of the decision. Just because someone is not able to make one decision, this does not mean they can’t make other decisions.

An assessment of capacity will be required to confirm this.

How can you ensure that the PoA is used as it is intended when the person is not able to make decisions?

Attorney’s should act on behalf on the Grantor, so it is important that everyone has had lots of conversations about what matters to individuals. These could be recorded in a Future Care Plan which the Attorney can use to help make decisions at a later date.

If anyone has concerns about the Attorney and decisions that are made they can refer it to the Office of the Public Guardian.

Cost Associated with Power of Attorney

How much does a PoA cost?

There is a cost for registering a PoA. There may be other costs like legal fees or getting a “certificate of capacity”. However there may be financial help available to cover these costs. You can ask Citizens Advice Scotland website for more details.

Who can people turn to for support with the cost associated with PoA and Guardianship?

You can apply for exemption of the Office of the Public Guardian fee or Legal Aid towards a solicitor drafting a PoA (need to check they offer this service) – both have criteria you need to meet.

You may also be able to get a fee waived or reduced for your capcity certificate, however you would need to speak to your solicitor or GP.

Is there an economical way to arrange PoA?

You don’t need to use a solicitor to draft your documents, and this can reduce the cost. However because this is a legal process, if you have any anxiety about writing your own documentation, or unsure how to go about this, then we would recommend seeking legal advice.

Do not be afraid to contact various firms and enquire about charges, and remember to ask about Legal Aid if you think your are eligible. For more information on legal aid visit Scottish Legal Aid Board | Solicitors for Older People Scotland

Can PoA be done jointly with a spouse or partner? Can this reduce the cost?

Yes, some firms will offer a reduction for two people, the average is around £600+. You can also do this through an online firm which can be cheaper. Remember to shop around and do your research.

What is the fee to renew Guardianship?

It does vary, but again you can apply for exemption for part fees (criteria applies) or check if you are entitled to Legal Aid. Guardianship has different fees for various parts of the process, and it also depends on the circumstances of the individual. Check the Public Office of Guardian (Scotland) website or give them a call if you need more information (01324678300 and press option 0).

Financial Power of Attorney (Continuing Power of Attorney)

Can you specify when you wish Financial Powers to start?

“Continuing (financial) powers can be used by the attorney immediately after the PoA document has been registered with the OPG. If the PoA is only to be used in the event of your incapacity, it must clearly state that the powers are not to be used until this happens. You may wish to add a statement about who should make this decision about your incapacity” (Office of Public Guardian).

Does the bankruptcy rule only apply for Financial POA?

You cannot be a Financial Attorney if you have been declared bankrupt. It does not affect Welfare Powers.

If you were granted the powers before your became bankrupt then the Office of Public Guardian may remove these powers. In these situations we would recommend seeking legal and/or financial advice.

Can a PoA be activated to manage someone’s financial affairs when the person has lost interest in finances due to memory problems?

Financial Powers are in place as soon as they are registered with the Office of Public Guardian. Remember you need to inform organisations of Attorney status and evidence this. Consider – Is it time for an assessment of capacity to confirm this?

Can the person still keep control of finances etc but with some support from the PoA to ensure their money is safe and to reduce the risk of scammers accessing it?

Yes, Financial PoA is activated right away and can be used when needed.

Scammers – POA wouldn’t affect this. Some banks may have other things set up for vulnerable customers – you would need to speak to the bank. At least if you had Financial PoA and the person was scammed you would be able to speak to the bank on their behalf which might be less stressful.

There are other protections set up if someone is scammed – Citizens Advice: Check if you can get your money back after a scam

Do you have to detail all your individual bank accounts, savings etc. and net worth in a Financial PoA?

The solicitor would advise on the detail of the Financial PoA and what areas to include e.g. what your attorney is responsible for – the financial areas they can act on, not the detail of what you have.

It is good to speak to the bank/organisations though if you are coming to a point where you are going to activate powers.

You should also speak with the person who is going to be your Attorney to let them know what accounts you have.

Welfare Power of Attorney

What can happen if I don’t organise a Welfare PoA?

If you don’t have a Welfare PoA set up, it can cause delays in your care. For example, some people stay in the hospital longer than needed because there is no one to make health decisions for them. This means that doctors and nurses are less able to help other patients who need care.

Why does having a welfare PoA matter to the NHS?

Right now, many people in the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde have to stay in the hospital longer because they don’t have a Welfare PoA. This takes up beds that could be used for other patients. It also means ambulances and staff can’t help as many people in the community or in emergency care.

Having a Welfare PoA helps keep things running smoothly and ensures patients get the care they need faster.

Is the Attorney able to choose the preferred care arrangements for a family member, if they required long term care in the future?

If you have Welfare Powers, you may need to make decisions about medical treatment or care homes (if they have lost capacity). But it is a good idea to discuss this with the person in advance if there is a risk of losing capacity.

If your relative thinks they would like to move into a care home, the first step is to contact Social Services who can:

help you both decide if a care home is the best option, or whether a package of care could allow them to stay in their own home, if they would prefer that
assess both their care needs and their eligibility for financial help towards care costs (this is important even if they intend to pay for their own care to begin with, in case they need financial help in the future)
provide help finding a suitable care home – the local council has a responsibility to find a suitable place for anyone they have assessed as needing care in a care home

What if someone has stated that they are unwilling to receive a treatment – a number of years later they lose capacity but there have been medical advances, can their Attorney request that the new treatment be considered?

Example: Perhaps the granter has stated that if their cancer returns, they wish to receive chemotherapy only but not radiotherapy because of the side effects – if it does return and they have lost capacity and radiotherapy is now more advanced without the side effects – can the Attorney ask for this to be considered as well?

Refusals of certain treatment are usually recorded in an Advanced Statement or Advanced Directive. In Scotland these are not legally binding documents, however clinicians and courts would use these to guide decision making if there were any disputes.

If a decision about treatment needs to be made, clinicians will have shared decision making conversations with the Attorney to discuss what might be appropriate. They can use documents like Advanced Statements and Future Care Plans to help try and understand what might be the best plan of action, as well as the information the Attorney may share about the motivations and priorities of the Granter. This might result in certain treatments being given.

This is why it is so important to have lots of conversations with your Attorney about what matters to you and record this in things like a Future Care Plan so everyone can understand what your motivations are.

Useful Links and Other Organisations

Public Office of Guardian (Scotland)

Adults with Incapacity Act (Scotland) Act 2000

Scottish Legal Aid Board

Mental Welfare Commission Scotland

Solicitors for Older People Scotland

Law Society of Scotland