East London Foundation Trust (ELFT) has launched a new Primary Care Psychology and Counselling service for Tower Hamlets, in partnership with Mind in Tower Hamlets and Newham.
The service which launched on 1 October 2018, was formed following input from a focus group made up of local people.
What the Service Provides
The service will offer support for common mental health problems, a range of counselling interventions (including bereavement and Asian & bilingual counselling) and long-term health conditions in primary care and employment support. The service will also continue to offer interventions for eating disorders and perinatal issues in primary care.
The Model
Guided by stepped-care model, the service will offer a full range of NICE recommended interventions which are culturally sensitive and locally appropriate. The service will focus on providing an assessment for all service users referred and streaming into the appropriate clinical intervention in the service. It will focus on working with service users to develop self-management skills and there will be a greater availability of group-based interventions across all levels of complexity and stages of patients' journey.
Interventions will be flexibly delivered in health and community settings as well as utilising online platforms and telephone, according to the individual's preference, and their travel or mobility needs. The service commits to and welcomes opportunities for further co-location and co-productions in health and community settings.
Self-referral is much welcomed and encouraged. Members of the public can access the service via the website www.towerhamletstalkingtherapies.nhs.uk or call the service directly to refer themselves.
