06-13 Mobile Crisis Intervention Team (MCIT) Flashcards
What is the Rationale?
The attendance of a Mobile Crisis Intervention Team (MCIT) at incidents involving a person experiencing a mental, emotional and/or substance use crisis, provides a skilled and compassionate response that may assist in diffusing and concluding the incident safely. The MCIT can assist frontline officers by providing a prompt assessment, supportive counselling, as well as connect the person to the appropriate follow-up services.
Procedure
The MCIT program is a collaborative partnership between participating hospitals and the Service bound through a Memorandum of Understanding. The MCIT program partners a mental health nurse with a police officer with additional training in working with persons in crisis that will respond or assist in the response to calls for service involving individuals experiencing a mental, emotional or substance use crisis. The MCIT response will assist with:
- assessing the situation
- attempting to stabilize and diffuse the crisis
- providing supportive counselling as needed
- connecting the individual to appropriate community services
The MCIT program currently operates seven (7) days a week (0900hrs – 2300hrs) and is partnered with area hospitals having catchment areas within in the following divisions:
- D11/14/22 – Unity Health Toronto - St Joseph’s Health Centre
- D12/13/23/31 – Humber River Hospital
- D32/33 – North York General Hospital
- D41/42/43 – Scarborough Health Network
- D51/52 – Unity Health Toronto - St. Michael’s Hospital
- D53/54/55 – Michael Garron Hospital
- The MCIT SHALL remain within their respective divisions/catchment areas when responding to calls for service as specified in the hospitals’ legal agreements with the Toronto Police Services Board.
MCITs may act as a first or co-responder in certain circumstances, including but not limited to the following calls for service involving:
- a person experiencing a mental, emotional, or substance use crisis
- a person attempting/threatening suicide
- a barricaded person, or other circumstances where it is known or thought to be caused by a mental, emotional or substance use crisis, in order to assess the person.
- The MCIT officer SHALL conduct a threat assessment prior to attending the call; where a person in crisis is found to pose a risk or threat to the attending MCIT nurse, the MCIT officer SHALL direct the nurse not to actively engage in the incident until it is determined to be safe by the attending MCIT officer.
MCITs may also provide assistance and support:
- to family members or support persons of an individual in crisis
- to assess a person who has been exposed to critical incident stress
- to attending police officers where MCIT expertise may be utilized
- to consult on missing persons with vulnerable attributes prior to being located
- to attend safety or wellness checks directly related to a person experiencing a mental, emotional and/or substance use crisis from non-dispatch sources, including but not limited to the Divisional Mental Health Liaison Officer (DMHLO), hospitals, and MCIT Case managers
- as directed by a supervisory officer
MCITs SHALL not generally be utilized for the following:
- incidents not involving a person in crisis
- clinical assessments where criminal charges will be laid
- to transport a person apprehended by the PRU, or to relieve a PRU officer at the hospital who has apprehended an individual
- The MCIT may call ahead to a hospital to assist for a smooth transition of care.
MCIT Management
Although MCITs remain assigned to the Community Response Unit (CRU), the on-duty _____ will be responsible to manage MCIT deployment to mental health related calls for service and be available to provide support and guidance when required. ____ will be responsible for direct supervision of MCITs while they are on patrol, monitoring calls for service and attending where required.
PRU management team
PRU supervisors
MCIT Officer
- When responding to an incident involving a person in crisis, SHALL
- prior to attending, conduct a threat assessment of the incident (based on available information) and overall safety of the MCIT to determine the involvement and level of the response
- request to obtain sufficient backup officers
- request the attendance of a supervisory officer when there is information that a person in crisis is armed or may be armed with a weapon
- request notification of the Specialized Emergency Response – Emergency Task Force (ETF), in accordance with Procedures, when:
o there is information that a person in crisis is armed or may be armed with a weapon
o background checks indicate that the person in crisis has a history of violence or use of weapons
o the incident involves a barricaded person
o the incident involves a person who by their position has placed themselves or others in immediate jeopardy (i.e. person located at height on a balcony, bridge, etc.)
Supervisory Officer
- When supervising a division with an assigned MCIT on duty SHALL
- coordinate with supervisory officers from other divisions within the MCIT catchment area to manage resources and maximize MCIT availability for mental health related calls for service
- ensure the MCIT attend mental health related calls for service promptly, when available
- ensure the MCIT are utilized in all circumstances where their expertise can assist in facilitating a peaceful resolution
Supervisory Officer
- Upon becoming aware that the MCIT is attending a call for service SHALL
- monitor the situation and attend when the risk for potential violence is or appears to be heightened
- ensure sufficient backup officers are attending
- ensure the ETF has been notified in accordance with procedures
Officer in Charge
- When managing a division with an assigned MCIT on duty SHALL monitor and coordinate with
other divisions within the MCIT catchment area to ensure resources are managed to maximize MCIT availability for mental health related calls.
Staff Sergeant – Community Response Unit
- When managing the home units of an assigned MCIT, SHALL oversee the coordination and supervision of
MCIT related activities and initiatives including attendance at meetings when required.
Staff Sergeant – Community Response Unit
- SHALL coordinate with all PRU supervisors when
completing the officer’s annual evaluation.
Unit Commander
- When in charge of a division that supports a MCIT SHALL ensure adherence with the
terms set out in the Memorandum of Understanding with partnered hospital.
Divisional Mental Health Liaison Officer (DMHLO)
- DMHLO SHALL coordinate, collaborate and work with
MCIT for an overall effective response to persons with mental health issues.
MCIT Program Coordinator – Community Partnerships & Engagement Unit
- The role of the MCIT Program Co-ordinator SHALL include but is not limited to the following duties:
- support planning and coordination of the MCIT program and its activities
- monitor the implementation of policies and practices
- help build positive relations within the teams and program partners
- coordinate annual mandatory training
- coordinate with MCIT nurse managers from partner hospitals
- coordinate with MCIT hospitals project manager
Definitions 06-13
Vulnerable Person means
means a person who by nature of an emotional, medical, psychological or other physical condition may exhibit patterns of behaviour that pose an increased risk of danger to themselves or others, who may require assistance from emergency services.
