Talking Therapies and the Stepped Care Model: Implementation of the Stepped Care Model for the delivery of Talking Therapies in secondary sector adult mental health services. A Waitemata DHB mental health psychological therapies project

The research

Summary: This paper discusses the adaption and implementation of the Stepped Care Model to improve the Delivery of Psychological Therapies in a secondary sector DHB Mental Health Service.

Objectives: The purpose of the Psychological Therapies Project in Waitemata District Mental Health (WDHB) is to increase access for clients to Psychological Therapies (Talking Therapies); and to increase resources (workforce) for the effective delivery of psychological therapies...[see full article].

Study design: A needs assessment survey in 2008 was undertaken with a number of components. There was a consultation with consumers which found that the move to increase talking therapies was supported by consumers who needed greater access. A survey to clinicians found that all clinicians spent around 45% of their time applying talking therapies. All professional groups had some degree of basic therapy knowledge, and some training, but there was a lack of formal training and supervision to deliver such therapies. A survey to the team managers found all services spent over 40% of their time applying talking therapies.

Results: Talking therapies are known to be an effective treatment; and there is increasing evidence of the effectiveness of evidence based therapies. Furthermore, a WDHB needs assessment survey found that: consumers highlighted the need for greater access to talking therapies, and for a greater range of core therapies, there was a need for training of other allied professions and nurses to provide therapy and outcome evaluation measures were needed to determine therapy effectiveness. A pilot project was commenced in an Adult CMHC Adult Service to improve delivery of Talking Therapies using the Stepped Care Model...[see full article].

Conclusions: All teams in DMHS have had a briefing and their data about current therapy provision has been reviewed. The model will be rolled out to other teams (specifically- North and West Adult Community Mental Health teams) following the conclusion of the Pilot project. All teams are keen to adopt the model, and supportive of opening up access to therapies, and also opening up therapy provision by other professions in a structured and supported way. Progress reports will be published with ongoing results discussed. Results will also be published at the conclusion of the WDHB/AUT research project. Key words: Improving services, psychological therapies, talking therapy, counselling, psychotherapy.

Ethics approval: Unspecified
Academic led: No
Service led: Yes
Publication in peer review journal: Yes
How were service users involved: Participants of the research

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