What is the Health Psychology Service?
The Health Psychology Service is a specialist community-based psychological service for people with physical health problems and those who work with them.
Who can be referred to us?
Adults (age 17+) who are registered with a North Derbyshire GP practice (i.e. High Peak, North Dales, North and South Hardwick, Chesterfield and Dronfield and Glossop PCNs) who have moderate to severe mental health concerns in relation to a current physical health condition(s).
In certain contexts, we may accept referrals for people who are under the care of the Community Mental Health services for brief focused work on a physical health issue.
For staff working with patients, we provide advice, consultancy and training.
For patients, we provide psychological assessment, formulation, education, and psychological therapy. This could include:
- Assistance in adjustment to and coping with physical health problems.
- Assistance in improving functioning and quality of life.
- Advice and training in psychological skills and techniques aimed at improving management or recovery.
- Assistance in making best use of physical interventions (e.g. phobias, compliance and motivational issues).
- Assistance with mood and anxiety where this is linked to physical health problems.
- Trauma in relation to medical/health experiences.
We usually offer patients brief focused interventions of around 6-8 appointments. We can extend this to medium term interventions for some people on a case-by-case basis.
We do not have the capacity to offer long-term work.
We accept referrals from Health Professionals in Primary and Secondary care.
This includes GP’s, Community Mental Health Service, NHS Talking Therapies, other Allied Health Professionals and Community Hospitals.
We do not accept self-referrals.
We ask for a written referral. You can request a copy of our referral form or refer via Pathfinder. We can accept email or letter referrals. Please give the following information as a minimum:
- Patient information (name, address, date of birth, NHS number)
- Key details about physical and mental health status
- Reason for referral.
- Reason unsuitable for primary care (NHS Talking Therapies) services.
- A copy of their most recent Mental Health assessment including risk management and care / safety plan if under the care of Community Mental Health Services.
We triage all referrals using a stepped care approach.
We would welcome discussion prior to a referral to support decision making about this.
- Patients may be suitable for NHS Talking Therapy (NHS TT) services where they have mild to moderate mental health issues linked to their long-term condition.
- Patients primarily presenting with complex or enduring mental health problems have needs which are usually best served by their local Community Mental Health Team (CMHT).
- Patients with health anxiety, where this is not in response to specific health problems should routinely be referred to NHS TT, Living Well or CMHT services.
- Patients who are an active suicide risk should be referred to mental health services.
- Patients under 17 should routinely be referred to local Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) or they can signpost to another appropriate service according to need.
- Patients requiring a neuropsychological assessment should be referred to Neuropsychology services attached to Neurology services.
- Specialist Stroke psychology services are delivered by Derbyshire Healthcare FT. Stroke psychology - North Derbyshire.
- Would not work with patients who are already accessing psychological therapy elsewhere. We would recommend a gap, typically of 3 to 6 months, between therapies.
We would only provide input for patients with neurodevelopmental disorders and dementia in relation to an additional specific physical health condition. Information about local support for these conditions can be found here Neurodiversity » Joined Up Care Derbyshire and Dementia services » Joined Up Care Derbyshire.
Derbyshire Psychological Insights Team
Derbyshire Psychological Insights Team works across Derbyshire and uses ideas and evidence from psychology and behavioural insights to help improve people's health and wellbeing. We do this through collaborating with teams and organisations to improve support and services for, and with, Derbyshire residents.
Our projects include work with teams, services and organisations to:
- Become more health literacy friendly.
- Listen to and understand citizen's views to shape projects and services.
- Evaluate services or activities to find out what is working well and less well.
- To use behaviour change and psychology to share ideas and learning in creative and impactful ways.
- Train and support staff to use ideas from psychology and behaviour change theory in their practice.
- Test out new ways of doing things with services to address existing issues (for citizens or services) using psychological and behaviour change models.
- Tailor existing support and services for those individuals in Derbyshire who face more barriers to health and wellbeing support.
If you would like further information about how the Psychological Insights Team may be able to collaborate with your service, please contact our Principal Clinical Psychologist, Dr Jo Hall on jo.hall@derbyshire.gov.uk or jo.hall1@nhs.net.