Assessment & Liaison Service (CMHTs): Free NHS Mental Health Service in Croydon

## What is the Assessment & Liaison Service? The Assessment and Liaison Service provides specialist NHS mental health care through Community Mental Health Teams (CMHTs). The service supports people with moderate to severe non-psychotic mental illness, including anxiety, depression, and personality disorder, offering advice on the best treatment and care options available. The service operates across three teams covering North, Central, and South Croydon, ensuring local access to specialist support. This is the main NHS route for people whose mental health needs are too complex or severe for Talking Therapies, but who don't require crisis intervention. It's part of South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust. ## Who Can Use the Assessment & Liaison Service? The service is for adults aged 18-65 who live in the London Borough of Croydon or are registered with aligned GP practices. It's designed for people with moderate to severe mental health needs who require specialist assessment or ongoing support. For milder difficulties, Croydon Talking Therapies may be more appropriate. For people over 65, there are separate older adult mental health services. ## How Do I Access the Assessment & Liaison Service? Referrals are made through your GP or other healthcare professionals - you cannot self-refer to this service. Ask your GP to make a referral if you feel you need specialist mental health support. Once a referral is received, the team will contact you to arrange an initial assessment appointment, either at Jeanette Wallace House, at a local clinic, or in your home. ## What Should I Expect? A qualified mental health practitioner will carry out an assessment to understand your needs and recommend the most appropriate support. Following assessment, you may be referred to another service, offered outpatient psychiatry appointments, or receive talking therapy from a psychologist. For those needing more intensive support, you may be allocated a care coordinator who will work with you over time. The target is for urgent referrals to be seen within 1 working day and all other referrals within 10 working days.