Issues with CMHT /CPN

After years of being referred to MH primary care, and them bouncing me back to GP, I have finally been referred to secondary care, CMHT, had initial psych appointment and was assigned a care worker (CPN)... CPN asked me if there was any one I didn't want information about my MH given to. I said I didn't want family to be told anything.
Last week after reiterating all the bs about wanting to 'build a rapport and trusting relationship' with me, she now says that she wants to speak to my next of kin (in the event that I am in crisis and at risk of harming myself). I said I wasn't happy about this and offered 2 alternative contacts whom I would be ok with her speaking to. She said neither were acceptable and asked me to give it some thought, I said does that mean you intend to speak to my NOK regardless? She said we would rather have your agreement, at that point I said that client confidentiality didn't mean anything then.
I am not on a section or CTO, so surely she cannot insist on talking to my NOK against my wishes..?

I now feel as though what little trust I had has totally broken down and I am considering discharging myself from CMHT care. Not something I want to do, given how long it took me to get referred to them in the first place, but if I can't trust them, then what choice do I have..?

Any thoughts or opinions or perspectives on this would be welcomed please.

This whole situation is really stressing me out and the last thing I want is to be at odds with the people who are supposed to be supporting me. I do kind of understand where they are coming from on a safeguarding front, but surely they still have to respect my rights...??

You're right, they cannot go behind your back and talk to them without your permission. The only time they can do this is if you have been sectioned/about to be sectioned. They have to inform your "nearest relative" if this is the case, and there's a set list for the order that works in. Even then you can apply to have the nearest relative changed although it isn't necessarily guaranteed, it depends if it is agreed it would be in your best interests to do so.

Even when I have been admitted to hospital in the past, the times I went voluntarily they couldn't inform anyone if I didn't want them to... it might be worth googling your rights and taking a printout to your CPN or something if she is still pushing for it. Sorry you are in this situation

You're right, they can't talk to anyone without your consent unless you lose capacity, in which case you would be sectioned.
It's probably just concern to get someone to look out for you if you can't do it for yourself.

If they do something you don't like and you want to complain, PALS (patient advice and liaison service) will help you. They're independent and the CMHT have to give you their details if you ask for them. The receptionist can probably give you that information.

I hope you can work it out with your CPN.

I am in bits.

CPN phoned me today, said she'd had a meeting with psychiatrist and her supervisor and they all agreed that my husband needs to be made aware of the risk I potentially pose to myself (even though I'm not under section or cto). She said they'd taken advice from their own legal people and felt that safeguarding took precedence over my wishes and right to confidentiality.

I feel like I have no choice but to discharge myself from CMHT on Monday with immediate effect, because if they insist on pursuing this route, how can I possibly trust them after this. They talk about building a trusting relationship with me, but they are not showing me any respect or trust.

I am thinking of contacting a MH advocacy service, but Monday is the deadline for me to call CPN back so I don't have much time to decide.

I can't believe they have put me in this position, I was already dealing with depression and anxiety, the stress has just magnified it tenfold.

I'm so sorry you have found yourself in this position. It doesn't seem at all right to me definitely call an advocacy service... can you call CPN Monday and ask for an extension so to speak? Maybe if you can persuade them you will be safe for the time being they might be able to wait a while before resorting to telling your husband?

It is 3 weeks since our first appointment, CPN says they should have acted long before now, she won't give me any more time...conveniently overlooking the fact that MH services has been constantly discharging me back to GP for past 3 years and it's only very recently that they've acknowledged I'm in a bad place and in need of support.
Am going to try and contact advocacy service first thing Monday morning before I have to speak to CPN again.

I'm so sorry about all of this.......

(They even used the "should" word...... )

NHS "choices" ......

Good luck with the Advocacy service

I hope you get this sorted quickly stress is the last thing you need right now

Been so low this week. People who were supposed to help, just made things worse, no trust left. Feel very alone. I am struggling to keep going from one day to another. Wish there was an easy way out of this, one that didn't hurt anybody else.

So after several phone calls, 2 f2f meetings and a phone call from my counsellor to CPN, CMHT have finally agreed to accept alternative contact for emergency.
I did say however that I couldn't build a trusting relationship with the CPN after this and requested to be allocated to someone else. Was told I had to put request in writing, which I did...that was 3rd April... Have heard nothing back from them and am left without any support, so I phoned CMHT only to find that said person is off sick and that my letter would have just been left in their pigeon-hole. So 9 days have passed, and nothing has been done with it, I asked if it could be given to someone else as a matter of urgency...so much for my welfare being a priority...

Perhaps I should have just written that I wanted to be discharged from MH services, I couldn't be any worse off!!

I'm very sorry to hear this. I think there may be "something wrong with me" as I am completely baffled by the "support" the NHS offers to people with MI issues .......