The Intensive Support Programme
Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust.
Between August 2012 and February 2014 I was lead for this programme – working across the Trust to put a therapeutic (psychological) approach across the acute care pathway.
The programme developed and evaluated an approach to delivering therapy within the inpatient environment, that fits within the “third wave” CBT paradigm. Working to harness the enthusiasm and enhance the skills of other professionals (particularly nursing staff) is integral to our approach.
The interventions were offered across the acute care pathway, working in collaboration with the Crisis Intervention and Home Treatment Service.
Our aims were:
- To enable the individual to make sense of their crisis and so take responsibility for restoring and maintaining good mental wellbeing (in line with Recovery)
- To facilitate staff psychological and empathic understanding in order to inform effective therapeutic engagement and intervention.
- To enhance staff knowledge and confidence in psychologically based therapeutic interventions.
- To enhance the therapeutic milieu, staff morale and the patient experience.