Lincolnshire’s NHS talking therapies service receives prestigious accreditation

Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust’s Mental Health Support Teams (MHST) which provide mental health support in over 80 schools in Lincolnshire, have been shortlisted in the BBC Make a Difference Awards 2022.

The county’s free NHS talking therapies service, steps2change, has received the prestigious APPTS reaccreditation for the quality of its services, which is valid until 2025. This was recently awarded for the second time by the Royal College of Psychiatrists.

Run by Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, the service supports people with common mental health problems such as depression or anxiety.

The Accreditation Programme for Psychological Therapies Service (APPTS) is designed specifically for talking therapies services. steps2change demonstrated ongoing improvements in several areas, including providing information and choice to service users about the types of care they receive.

Feedback from service users showed that they appreciated the way in which steps2change teams adapted to working flexibly during the pandemic, finding the online options very helpful. They also unanimously agreed that they have been treated with compassion, empathy, kindness, respect and dignity.

Steps2change scored 100 per cent in all essential standards for providing safe, caring, and well-led services. The service also scored very highly in other areas, achieving 84 per cent for more aspirational standards.

Claire Hancox, steps2change Service Manager, paid credit to staff for their hard work which allowed the service to be recognised in this prestigious way.

“The APPTS accreditation is a real achievement for our service and provides assurance of our commitment to delivering quality mental health services for the people of Lincolnshire.

“It recognises that in times of increasing numbers of people experiencing common mental health problems, steps2change consistently meets national waiting time targets, while remaining focused on what’s best for our service users.

“This includes support from our employment advisors who work with service users to help them remain in paid employment, return to work following a period of mental ill health, or find work that’s right for them.”

It is quick and easy to refer to steps2change to access support. People in Lincolnshire can refer themselves online by visiting www.steps2change.nhs.uk, by calling 0303 123 4000, or by visiting their GP.