Community Response Team

The Community Response Team (CRT) provides community based behaviour support, counselling, and psychiatric assessment and consultation for adults with developmental disabilities to support their mental health and improve quality of life. We serve Greater Victoria and the geographical area south of the Malahat.  The CRT works with Individuals, their families, support workers, community-based teams, medical professionals, and family doctors to provide person-centred and solution-focused support.  The CRT is funded through Community Living British Columbia (CLBC); services are voluntary and there are no extra fees for the persons served.

Behaviour Support and Counselling Services:  

The CRT team coordinator will review online referrals to ensure:

1. All required contact information is included.
2. The person being referred is eligible for service.
3. The referral issue is sufficiently described to determine suitability of CRT services.

The coordinator will follow-up if there are deficiencies in any of the areas. Referrals that are deemed to be outside of the scope of CRT services may be declined at this stage. Prior to declining a referral, the person that has made the submission will be contacted to discuss the referral issue in detail. If the decision to decline remains, the rational will be explained to the referring party.

Accepted referrals will be placed on a pending list until a clinician becomes available. The amount of time spent on the pending list is variable, depending on existing clinician caseloads and the volume of referrals being received. Wait times can range from several weeks to several months.

The assigned clinician will initiate contact with the referring party(s).

The hours of service are Monday to Friday, 8:30am-4:30pm. Evening or weekend availability is based on the individual need and at the discretion of the Behaviour Consultant or Counsellor.

For behaviour support, the consultation will take place in the Individual’s home or community program and the duration of service will depend on the needs of the Individual supported. If a Behaviour Support Plan is created it will be reviewed and updated annually as per CLBC policy.  If a Safety Plan is created it will be reviewed and updated by the CRT Behaviour Consultant every six months as per CLBC policy.

For counselling, the sessions will take place in the Counsellor’s office and the frequency/duration of service will depend on the needs of the Individual supported.

Our criteria to access behaviour support/counselling services with the CRT are as follows:

• Individual must be 19 years or older
• Individual must receive services through the CLBC Victoria office
• Referral form must be completed in full including the reason for referral
• Consent for service must be provided by the Individual or substitute decision maker

Psychiatric Services:

The assigned CRT Behaviour Consultant or Counsellor may determine that a referred individual will benefit from a consult with the CRT team psychiatrist. The CRT clinician will then initiate the process for arranging the appointment in consultation with the individual’s support team.

Clinics with the Psychiatrist are held twice monthly at Kardel board room, either a morning session from 9:00am-12:00pm or afternoon session from 1:00pm-4:30pm.

Our criteria to access psychiatric services with the CRT are as follows:

• Referral must be filled out by Individual’s primary physician
• Individual must be 19 years or older
• Individual must receive services through the CLBC Victoria office
• Consent for service must be provided by the Individual or substitute decision maker

Note: Kardel’s Complaint Resolution Process applies to services provided by the Community Response Team.

How to Contact Us:  

For further information about the Community Response Team please phone the CRT Coordinator Mike Engel at 250-383-2840 or email at [email protected]