NSCPS is not a crisis service
If you need urgent support, please contact your local GP, emergency department or other local crisis service.
We have a friendly and varied team of professionals. Our team includes
- Clinical psychologists
- Psychological therapists
- Counsellors
- Primary care mental health practitioners
- Trainee clinical psychologists
- Assistant psychologist
- Administrators
Who is the service for?
NSCPS is funded by the NHS and is free. You must be 18+ and have a Newcastle GP.
We take referrals from
We are unable to take self-referrals or referrals from a GP.
We work with people whose mental health needs are more complex than Newcastle talking therapies work with, but who don’t meet the limit for community treatment teams.
How can I be referred?
We discuss all new referrals from Newcastle talking therapies and the community treatment team on a Thursday in our weekly interface meeting.
If this service is the best service for you, we will contact you to book an assessment. This initial contact will be within 1-3 working days of the weekly meeting.
Assessments are usually within 2 – 3 weeks of the weekly meeting. Our assessment will check that we are the right service to meet your needs. We also want to understand your goals for therapy.
After the assessment, we will agree a plan with you. If appropriate, you will go on our waiting list for therapy. We may not be the right service for you. In this case, we will help you find a more suitable service or organisation.
What to expect?
During your assessment
At first, our administrator will call you to book your assessment appointment. This will be a telephone appointment with a clinician, but it can be face-to-face if you prefer. It will take between 30 – 60 minutes.
We will ask you to fill in a short series of questionnaires. You can do this before the appointment if you give us a mobile phone number. We will send you a link by SMS/text message the day before your appointment.
The assessment will involve the therapist asking you some questions. This will help us understand your current problems and your goals.
The questions will help us to understand if therapy will be helpful. We will also think about what might be most helpful for your needs. We have some information from your referrer. Your clinician will try not to ask you to repeat these things.
After your assessment
There are a few things that can happen after your assessment. We may agree that our service can help you and we will offer you:
- Extended assessment and formulation
- Brief psychological intervention
- Structured psychological therapy
We may not be the right service for you. In this case, we will help you find a more suitable service or organisation that will help you.
We will always write you a letter with the outcome of your assessment. Please note that we can’t offer any diagnosis (we are not a diagnostic service). We will also send a copy of this letter to your GP.
Treatment
Our administrators will contact you when a treatment appointment becomes available. The number of sessions that people need can vary. The range is 4 -20 sessions, but most people find that 8 -12 sessions are about right.
You will discuss how often your sessions will be with your therapist. It is likely to be every week or every two weeks.
Attendance and missed appointments
Regular attendance is important. Many of our therapies also require you to do tasks between sessions. It is important that you feel ready to commit to making your sessions with our service a priority. Coming to regular appointments will help you get the most from our service.
There is a high demand for our service. If you need to cancel, please give as much notice as you can. This allows us to offer someone else an appointment.
When you begin therapy, if you do not attend 2 appointments you will be discharged. Not attended appointments mean cancellations or missed appointments. This is in line with our service policy.
Communications
Whilst open to our service, we will write to you at several points. A copy of the letter will always be sent to your GP.
We will write to you:
- After your assessment
- After your first treatment appointment
- When you are discharged
What we offer
Assessment and formulation
We offer this if your problems have lasted a long time and don’t seem simple. An extended assessment takes between 3 – 5 appointments. The assessment involves collecting more information about your problems.
This helps us both to understand your difficulties, how they started and, how they are maintained. This is called a formulation. Formulation can help us develop a treatment plan.
Brief psychological interventions
Our brief psychological interventions help people with complex mental health problems. These interventions can help you to manage your symptoms and distress. They can also help you to get ready for further therapy within our service.
Your sessions will help you to make sense of difficult or confusing times in your life. They will also link these times in your life to your current problems. This will help you make positive and practical changes in your life. You will usually have between 6 – 10 sessions.
Structured psychological therapy
Our structured psychological therapies help people with complex mental health problems. These interventions can help you to make sense of and manage your symptoms and distress. We offer a range of psychological interventions. Our team are trained to help you to make sense of your issues, problem-solve, and change your behaviour. They will support you to find your own solutions to your problems. Your sessions can also help you make sense of difficult or confusing times in your life. They will also link these times in your life to your current problems. You will usually have between 8 – 12 sessions. At most, you may have 20 sessions.
While you wait
Reaching out for support takes courage. You have already taken the first step. We understand that waiting lists can be really difficult. You may feel stuck, overwhelmed, and unsure of what’s to come. These feelings are completed valid.
We have some simple tips and ideas to help you look after your wellbeing whilst you wait for treatment. It is not a replacement for therapy but can help you feel a little more in control during this uncertain time.
Feedback
We value patient feedback. It helps us improve the care we provide. We routinely send a patient satisfaction survey to patients when discharged.
You can also contact the Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS). PALS offer private support, advice, and information on health matters and services. They can listen to patients’ questions, concerns, and offer help.
Co-production group
We have a co-production group within our service. This includes both staff and patients.
Our aim is to improve patient experience. Our group provides a space to collect and act on feedback based on the experiences of patients who use our service.
We want to ensure that our service aligns with the needs of the people who are using it.
Contact
To join our co-production team, please speak to your therapist or call the number below.
Our clinics
You can find the list of locations at the bottom of this page. Most of our clinics are open Monday to Friday 9 – 5pm.
We offer evening appointments between 5 – 8pm at the RVI on a Wednesday
We also offer video and telephone appointments. Our video appointments use the secure video platform ‘Attend Anywhere’.
This allows you to attend your appointment from the comfort of your home. We will provide you with information about using Attend Anywhere. You must be in a quiet and private place during your video appointment.
Contact us
We understand that it can be difficult entering a new service and being on a waiting list. If you have any questions, or if there are any changes, please feel free to contact us.
Newcastle specialist community psychology service
Newcastle specialist community psychology service
Level 1
Arthurs Hill Clinic
Douglas Terrace
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE4 6BT
Monday to Friday, 9am – 5pm
Links to other services
Newcastle and Gateshead Crisis Resolutions and Home Treatment Team
Text number for those who are deaf and/or have communication difficulties 07919 228548
