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Wandsworth Early Intervention Service provides person-centred recovery support to adults experiencing a first episode of psychosis and helps to prevent their mental health deteriorating further.
Psychosis typically involves experiencing difficulties determining what is real and what is not, and can include visual and/or auditory hallucinations or delusions.
- Service Type: Adults
- Service Contact: weis@swlstg.nhs.uk
- Service Category: Community
- Address: Elizabeth Newton Building (1st Floor), Springfield University Hospital, Elizabeth Newton Way, London, SW17 0YG
- Reception hours: Monday - Friday 9:00am to 5:00pm
- Reception phone number: 020 3513 5000
About our care
The Wandsworth Early Intervention Service is an holistic, recovery-focused service for adults experiencing a first episode of psychosis. The team's focus is to support people to live well and stay well, and develop strategies to manage their experiences, whilst developing strong relationships with individuals and their families.
The service is made up of a group of different mental health professionals who combine their skills to provide a range of treatments and therapies including education; access to psychology, Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), family work, medication management, physical health checks, stress management and relapse prevention, alongside social support such as daily living skills, further education, work, housing, as well as support with substance misuse.
Who is this service for?
Wandsworth Early Intervention Service is for adults aged 18-65 living in the borough of Wandsworth with a primary or suspected diagnosis of psychotic disorder.
The team also supports people experiencing psychosis linked to secondary drug abuse, and people who are experiencing symptoms of psychosis alongside other mental health issues such as bipolar disorder, personality disorder or depression.
Transfers from Early Intervention Services in other parts of the country are also possible for those within their first two years of treatment.
Referrals and access
In a mental health emergency, call the Trust's Mental Health Crisis Line on 0800 028 8000.
Otherwise local GPs should be the first point of contact if struggling with mental health issues. GPs can provide referral to the Wandsworth Single Point of Access (SPA) team, who can in turn refer to the Wandsworth Early Intervention Service.
Referrals are also possible for patients under the care of other local teams including Community Mental Health Teams (CMHTs), Home Treatment Teams (HTTs), inpatient wards, Liaison Psychistry teams, as well as internal transfers from other Early Intrevention Services in different parts of the country.
Patient information
People referred to the service will work with the team to develop a plan for their care and support at the outset. Alongside this, a named healthcare professional will help organise, manage and monitor this plan and will act as a main point of contact. For those with more complex needs a dedicated care coordinator will provide this support
Care provided by Wandsworth Early Intervention Service includes:
- Swift assessment for those with a suspected first-episode of psychosis and felixibility with appointment times
- Information to help people understand psychosis and treatment options
- A choice of psychological and pharmacological treatments
- Medication reviews and support with switching medication or for treatment resistant patients
- Care designed to suppport medication compliance
- Psychological treatments including individual Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Family Intervention for Psychosis
- Psychosocial interventions to support education, compliance and relapse prevention
- Regular physical health checks, monitoring and appropriate treatment
- Support with other difficulties such as low mood, anxiety and substance misuse
- A crisis plan and prompt service response to severe difficulties
- Support with employment, training and/or education
- Support, information and advice for families and carers, including carers’ assessments where required
- Developing supportive relationships with service users and their families
Care provided follows guidance, standards and recommendations provided by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).
Useful resources include:
