New referrals are reviewed within a week of their arrival at EDAMH.

Upon acceptance of a referral, a date will be set for an initial assessment visit/meeting, which ordinarily will be at the persons home, but essentially at place where they are most comfortable. EDAMH has office bases in both Milngavie and Kirkintilloch and we are happy to meet with people there, if this would be more suitable.

The assessment appointment letter will encourage the person to have someone with them if they wish during the assessment visit. Where the person had been referred by another agency, the referrer will be sent a copy of the assessment letter.

The initial visit or meeting is the first opportunity to find out a bit more about the person and tell them a bit more about EDAMH and the kinds of support we can offer. We appreciate that the prospect of meeting for the first time can lead to the person feeling anxious or worried. We are keen to emphasise that we understand this and that the initial visit is not an interview and there are no forms to fill or paperwork to complete. We do not pressurise people in any way, to talk about or share anything that they don’t want to. Neither do we expect people to make any decisions by the end of the visit.   

Where we are able to agree that there are identified needs to which EDAMH can respond with support and the person wishes to receive support, a commitment will be made to allocate a support worker to the person, as soon as we possibly can.

Where a decision to offer support is not made, this may be for reasons such as the assessed person requires further time to make their decision to accept an offer of support, or the assessing member of staff requires further additional information, for another source, before being able to offer support and allocation of a support worker. On some occasions we are unable to offer any support as the person may have needs which EDAMH is unable to support, or requires a different service. In such circumstances we will try to identify and connect the person with more appropriate support.

Where agreement is made to offer support, but there is insufficient capacity to allocate a support worker immediately, the assessed person will be placed on a waiting list, until a support worker can be allocated. Contact will be maintained with the person by letter, to inform them that they remain on the waiting list and a support worker will be allocated as soon as is possible.