The Step Forward psychological intervention service in Liverpool is a key element of Mersey Care’s community mental health transformation programme. Requests for the service are only provided via GP or another health professional referral.
Our service aims to meet need outside of secondary mental health care, maximising community assets and providing psychologically informed interventions to support recovery. We work closely with secondary mental health care teams to support seamless transitions between primary and secondary care, and we are passionate in developing our pathways with key statutory and non statutory services in order to provide a seamless journey for our service users.
We are also aware of the difficulties experienced by people from black, asian, mixed backgrounds and other minoritised ethnic groups, when accessing mental health services. We work closely with underrepresented communities across the footprint to increase our knowledge and understanding of the challenges people face, and we adapt our services to reduce and overcome the barriers identified.
Our psychological intervention teams primarily comprise: clinical psychologists, psychological practitioners and assistant psychologists. We consider input for anyone aged 18 years and over who present with common mental health problems that have greater chronicity or complexity than would be typically seen in an NHS Talking Therapies service, but whose complexity would not be considered to meet secondary care threshold. Typical presenting issues might include complex multiple trauma, emotional and behavioural dysregulation, and/or moderate or chronic self harming behaviour (but not severe or life threatening self harm).
Clients might also present with a history of difficulties with managing emotions safely and difficulties establishing or maintaining positive relationships. The psychological interventions offered are tailored to each individual, and through this, we hope to create a therapeutic setting of mutual trust and respect in which everyone feels heard, valued and understood.