Are you able to text your CPN?
 

Last week I was unexpectedly given a new CPN, after having the previous one for almost 2 years.

From the first day I met my previous CPN she gave me her works mobile number and said I could text/call her whenever I needed as it was a nightmare getting through to the main office and she's rarely in the office.

I asked my new CPN last week if I could have her works mobile number as I am lot more comfortable texting. She said "I don't use a works mobile, I ask that everyone rings the main office and either leaves a message or asks for me and if i'm not available i'll ring back".

I'm wondering how common this is? I've always been given my support workers and social workers works number.

It's been different with every worker I've had as well. For me, it's been split pretty much 50/50.

At the moment, neither of my workers are happy to text which is frustrating.

I hope you find a way to get hold of your CPN without feeling too uncomfortable. xx

Thanks, the frustrating thing is she was my friends CPN last year and she gave her a works mobile number and she told me she doesnt have a works mobile number, so I feel like she's lied to me, it's hard to trust her now.

Maybe currently she doesn't use a work mobile. I don't think she meant it in a bad way by not giving it or it might be new protocol in the cmht not to give work numbers to patients?

I know that in my trust its really hard to get through to anyone as the receptionists are really rubbish however my CPN still won't give me his work number for me to text or call directly.

i've had 6 CPN's over the last 8/9 years and i've only ever had one give me her works mobile, she was with the EIP team, so it wasn't CMHT.

I think it's commonplace where I live for professionals to give you their work mobile numbers. I've seen five CCs in adult services and a number of support workers and always had their mobile numbers. I've never had therapists give me their number though before, I think that would be a boundary!

I guess some professionals might not be that good at keeping up with mobiles, or not comfy with it? How do you feel about it?

Thanks for your input everyone, least i'm not alone and it does seem quite common practice, thanks :-)

My care coordinator gave me his works mobile number recently but that was after a few months of being with him. He says it's usually easier to try through main office if want to talk on phone though as often he's with clients.

None of my support people have ever given work mobile numbers before.

At the moment I have my therapists number due to the intensity of the therapy. But my old therapist used to make me ring the office to speak to her. So like people say everyone is different! It also depends on the mental state you are in. I'm not in a good state hence having the number to contact him anytime! Hope this helps x

so long as she's got a work phone and it's not her personal number then it's fine

When I was with Early Intervention, I had numbers for my CPN, psychologist, OT and support worker. EI work slightly different to everyone else though. When I was with the main CMHT, I didn't have anyone's mobile number and had to phone the main office to speak to my worker.

I've had numbers for two or three of my key workers, but it was for non emergency things (ie I couldnt rely on it to let them know I was suicidal).

I have my current key worker's work email address but again its not for emergency use.

I have never had work mobile numbers for anyone from the CMHT and I have had errr, 5 adult CC's and several people in CAMHS, and 3 people in the ED team.

I have had my councellors private number though but I'd never have abused it. It was to text about appointment times.

I think that I have the mobile numbers for my CCs (I say think because I've never formally been given them but have been rang on their mobiles when they forgot to put the call status to 'unknown' and I stored them just in case, but I don't abuse it) but I don't call them on their mobiles because, I think, they prefer to be called through the office - though I hate it and they frequently get told this :P. I guess that texting can sometimes become more informal so they prefer it to go through the office? I don't really know. I know that I have their emails so that I can email - though the CMHT people do not seem to actually read emails...

I think it's normal not to be able to text your CPN.

It's varied for me, by individual preference. One of my care coordinators was of an 'older' generation and said she couldn't cope with texting but I had her mobile number. Then I worked with a much younger member of the team who was quite happy to be texted and actively encouraged it. It was new to me then and felt weird. My current two CCO's I don't text or have mobile 'phone numbers for. They haven't offered them and I haven't asked. To be honest, I feel more comfortable going through the office and have always rung the CMHT rather than individual mobile numbers anyway. I have/had email addresses and use them. My team are very good at replying. Email has been a very good way for me to communicate, particularly when I have been struggling.

Did she say she doesn't have one or she doesn't use it? I know it's a tiny difference but in your first post I got the impression she might have one but just doesn't use it for clients (maybe is uncomfortable with technology), but this post says she doesn't have one. I don't know, I'm not explaining myself well but I don't think she was intentionally lying to you, and some professionals are just uncomfortable with that form of contact but I'm sure it isn't personal xx

I've been super lucky in that my psychiatrist gave me her work number and email so that I could contact her freely if I were having a crisis or needed her support with something. The crisis team I'm under all have work mobiles which I can text or ring within the hours the crisis team work. However my therapists have never given me their work numbers nor my old CC, except one who only used it to communicate about appointments.
I think it's down to their personal preference and if they are willing to volunteer extra time for their patients, some will and some prefer to keep it 'professional'.
Perhaps by not giving you a work number she is trying to encourage you to gain more independence? If you're having a crisis please do contact someone, even if it's samaritans or a friend. Don't struggle alone. x

My CPN has given me an mobile phone number, but it belongs to the CHMT. It is meant for non urgent texting, if it is urgent then you are supposed to phone them.

I havent been using it because I have the courage to phone the CMHT instead, but I know it's there.