Primary Care Mental Health Service Provision (including IAPT)

NHS Eastern Cheshire CCGs intention is to procure a core IAPT service (covering Steps 2 & 3) in addition to a Wellbeing Wraparound service via separate lots. Access to both services will be via Access and Referral Points to be provided by the core IAPT Service Provider

The model that NHS Eastern Cheshire CCG has developed, following extensive research, and following national guidelines follows an innovative approach to providing care for people with a range of mental health problems, including:

• establishing a “Access and Referral” for a primary care-based model of mental health services, including IAPT
• establishing a wellbeing wraparound hub, so that everyone, regardless of whether they meet the thresholds for IAPT therapies or not, can access mental wellbeing support

The innovation to integrate earlier intervention/prevention interventions into the pathway, ensuring that those at steps 1 and 2 with sub-threshold symptoms are getting a service (in line with NICE guidance), is an valuable addition to the existing IAPT provision, and will ensure that those with mental health needs are supported faster, and by existing assets in our community.

Linking these to social prescribing/community referral schemes helps to address the causal factors, which has previously been a key missing element of service provision, and something as a Clinical Commissioning Group that we have felt very strongly about. The development of our ‘Wellbeing Wraparound’ in addition to the core IAPT service will help to integrate these elements in a new and innovative way in Eastern Cheshire.