The service - 'Sutton Uplift' - will be provided by South West London and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust and voluntary sector partners; Imagine, Age UK Sutton, Off the Record and the Sutton Carers Centre.
The service will operate in the heart of the community and offer a holistic approach to promoting positive mental health and wellbeing focusing on early intervention in line with national guidelines. It offers the following:
Single point of access (SPOA)
Professional and self-referral access for adults (18+) who have a mental health problem who live in Sutton or have a Sutton GP. Multiple methods of referral are available including telephone, online and by post.
Mental health triage and assessment
Mental health assessments will be led by experienced mental health Nurse Practitioners and a Consultant Psychiatrist. Decisions will be made as to the most appropriate treatment service and will be referred on accordingly.
A wellbeing hub
The voluntary sector partners will lead on providing a wellbeing service who will work alongside clinical service to enhance people's wellbeing, helping them to reconnect, manage stress, promote independence, reduce isolation and generally live a healthier lifestyle.
A team of wellbeing navigators will focus on connecting people to local advice, support and activity resources and play an active role in engagement and inclusion, targeting BME and vulnerable community groups.
This support will be offered:
Instead of treatment – offering alternative community based resources
As well as treatment – complementing evidence based treatment
Before and after treatment – offering community options to improve recovery and social inclusion
Psychological Therapy (IAPT)
NICE evidence-based psychological therapies will be available for people who experience emotional difficulties including anxiety and low mood. This includes guided self-help, psycho-educational courses and one-day workshops, counselling, psychotherapy and cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). This service will also be offering on-line psychological support via the Big White Wall (www.bigwhitewall.com), increasing options and patient choice. Big White Wall offers online support:
Via video, audio, instant messaging and integrated whiteboard
With qualified and experienced NHS therapists, working in the local IAPT service
From home or a location chosen by the patient with no need to travel or take time off work
Week days (up to 8.00pm) and Saturday mornings
Additional 24/7 online mental health support
Please note all Big White Wall activity is overseen by psychiatrists called 'wall guides'.
Recovery support
There will also be clinical and social support for people who have a long standing but stable mental health condition, who to date have been supported in secondary care services. The support will include a prescribing service, medication and physical health reviews, support to improve their quality of daily living or reduce social isolation, identifying and engaging carers, assessing and signposting for housing needs.
The main base for this service will be at Jubilee Health Centre (East) but will also be operating from a range of community venues to ensure borough wide coverage and increased access. The service is also planning to have a well-being shop in Sutton to encourage and increase engagement with the range of support on offer.The service will be offering out of hours appointments, including evenings and Saturdays.
This mental health model will offer Sutton residents more treatment choices; mental health care in a less stigmatising environment; improved knowledge on how to manage mental well-being; an holistic model of care addressing physical, social and mental health needs; and will generally support the 'keeping people in their lives' approach to mental health care and build emotional resilience among Sutton's communities.
Dr Chris Keers, clinical lead for Mental Health at Sutton CCG said: "We are really excited that this new innovative primary care model for mental health in Sutton is becoming a reality.
"Mental health is one of our main priorities and we want this service to make a real difference to the mental health and well-being of people living in Sutton.
"Partnership working will play a central role; South West London and St George's has strong links with many local voluntary sector partners who will be working together to offer a wide range of services. As well as more treatment choices, care will be provided in a less stigmatising environment, and patients will be able to improve their knowledge of how to manage their own mental well-being in a holistic way that links with their physical and social needs."
David Bradley, Chief Executive of South West London and St George's said:
"I thank Sutton CCG for this contract and for recognising our expertise and commitment to providing excellent mental health services. This important contract will make sure that Sutton residents are able to access our high quality mental health services in the most streamlined way."
Mark Clenaghan, Head of Operations at South West London and St George's said,
"The Trust has an existing in-depth knowledge of Sutton and the local landscape, significant experience in running mental health services in the community and great links with organisations and charities. We have also had success in developing innovative new ways of working in our current services. I am looking forward to building on all our services and continuing working with our partners to make sure people in Sutton have the highest quality of care available to them".