Services

Gloucestershire
Recovery in Psychosis (GRiP)

Gloucestershire Recovery in Psychosis (GRiP) is an early intervention in psychosis service for patients living in Gloucestershire.

You can contact the GRiP team on 0300 421 4884 or write to:

Gloucestershire Recovery in Psychosis (GRiP)

Rikenel

The Park

Montpellier

Gloucester

GL1 1LY

Early Intervention in Psychosis

Early Intervention in Psychosis teams are community mental health teams that work with people aged between 14 and 65 who are at risk of experiencing (at risk mental state or ARMS) or who are experiencing a first episode of psychosis

Typically, Early Intervention teams work in the community and will try to meet with people in a place where they feel most comfortable.

If a person has experienced a psychosis the support they receive from us can last for three to four years. In this time we will help a person to recover from their psychotic episode and reduce the chance of them experiencing further episodes.

If we feel that a person fits into the ARMS criteria we can usually work with them for between three and twelve months. During this time they may be provided with self-help information, or signposted to another more appropriate service to help with their presenting difficulties. Other people deemed ARMS will receive more targeted support from the Early Intervention Service.

Our service is made up of a team of professionals who have a lot of experience of working with people with psychosis. When you are first referred to us you will meet someone from the team who will talk to you and, if you wish, your family about what you have been experiencing.

GRiP has an open referral policy which means that anyone can contact the team to discuss a possible referral. This can be done via the phone or in writing.

I've been referred to GRiP - what happens next?

Once referred you will be assessed by two members of the team. This usually happens within 10 working days and will take place somewhere you are comfortable. This can be at your home, at any Gloucestershire Health and Care Trust base, including Pullman Place, or in another mutually convenient place such as a coffee shop. The assessment will allow us to see whether you fit the criteria for the GRiP Team. If you do you will be allocated a care co-ordinator and a care plan will be drawn up.

However, if we believe that you are not suffering from a psychotic episode and are not At Risk Mental State (ARMS), we will refer you to a team more suited to your needs and signpost you to places that may be able to help.

Who works in GRiP - Our Multi Disciplinary Team

GRiP is a multi-disciplinary team; this means that the people who work in the team are made up from a number of different types of professions. Typically a person using our service will work with mainly one or two members of staff; however these people are usually picked depending on the person’s needs and goals.

Below is a list of some of the roles that staff members do within the team:

Approved Mental Health Professional (AMHP)

Any qualified member of the team may be an approved mental health professional. These are people who work within the Mental Health Act.

Care Co-ordinator

Any professional within the team, usually a nurse or a social worker, and the person responsible for creating and reviewing your care plan with you. Your care co-ordinator can work with you to provide support, advice and information about your mental health, help you with skills to manage your own mental wellbeing, and co-ordinate involvement of other team members and support you to access information and services.

Community Mental Health Nurse

A nurse who specialises in mental health in the community. They help with the medical aspects of your care such as medication and injections as well as provide you with the knowledge, advice, support, and skills to help you in your recovery, whilst gaining an understanding about your diagnosis. Some may also be able to prescribe (see ‘nurse prescriber’).

Health and Exercise Practitioner

Someone who monitors your physical health and will support you to lead a healthy lifestyle. They can advise you on alcohol, smoking, healthy eating and regular exercise. You may see the health and exercise practitioner individually or within the organised groups.

Nurse Prescriber

Some nurses may also be nurse prescribers. This means they are able to manage and prescribe medication. They work with you to encourage you to take your medication and help you to deal with any side affects you experience.

Occupational Therapist (OT)

Occupational therapists take a holistic approach. They assess physical, emotional and cognitive functioning. They can play an important role in helping you learn vital skills for daily life such as cooking and budgeting, which build confidence and independence. An occupational therapist may also support service users who are returning to work or education.

Psychiatrist (Doctor)

A psychiatrist is a doctor who specialises in mental health. They are responsible for prescribing medication. They will work with you to decide what medication might be helpful in dealing with your symptoms, what dose you should be taking and how often. A psychiatrist will also monitor any side-effects.

Psychologist

Psychologists carry out assessments and interventions aimed at helping you to make sense of your experiences, getting a better understanding of your difficulties and what you might need help with. They often work with people individually but may also work with couples, families and groups.

Social Worker

Social workers work with service users and their families to help improve outcomes in their lives. They provide support, advice and advocacy for issues such as housing, finance and employment. Social workers can also complete assessments if larger packages of care are needed.

Support Worker

Support workers help service users and families with any emotional or social needs and will direct you to the services required. They can also help find activities within the local community. In addition, support workers may be able to help more practically such as with transport to try to ensure you can make it to meetings and groups.

What we offer

Below is a selection of the things that GRiP may be able to support you with. This list is not extensive, GRiP aim to work with you to help you goals in life that are important to you. Please talk with a member of staff or your care co-ordinator about what these goals may be and to see if GRiP can support you to achieve them.

Advice and advocacy

We can offer advice and advocacy with other problems you may be having such as accommodation, finances and issues with schools, colleges and employers.

Carers support

A carer is a family member or friend who spends time helping the person who is not well. We offer informal support as well as assessments, information and support groups.

Early warning signs

Working through your early warning signs to create an ordered list of things you may notice in yourself prior to a relapse will help you recognise and understand your symptoms. This allows you to make an action plan of what to do if anyone notices the signs, which gives you the chance to seek more support sooner rather than later.

Family work

This is a structured way of helping you to understand psychosis and to solve any issues you may face together, as a family.

Groups

There are a variety of groups which can help you build your confidence, manage troubling symptoms and meet other people experiencing similar difficulties. Ask your care co-ordinator for details of the groups we offer.

Healthy lifestyles

Your physical health will be monitored and we will help you understand how your physical health impacts on your mental health.

Hospital

If you become very unwell and your difficulties cannot be safely managed at home, you may be admitted to hospital for a short period. Our hospital has different wards including male and female only wards. Whilst in hospital you will be supported by a variety of health workers including nurses, doctors, art therapists, physiotherapists and occupational and sports therapists.

Medication

Taking medication can greatly reduce the severity of symptoms and can help prevent symptoms from returning. You will discuss medication options with a psychiatrist and will be regularly reviewed.

Psychological interventions

These can be helpful in managing psychosis and its related problems such as depression and anxiety. Assessments and talking therapies may be used as a way for us to learn more about how psychosis is affecting you as an individual. This will help us ensure we provide the right care for you. These interventions are something you take an active part in, rather than something you are prescribed such as medication.

You can watch some YouTube videos here which explain different types of intervention.

Current Patient Groups and Activities

For patients currently under the care and support of the GRiP Team, we offer these opportunities for engagement in healthy activities, run by our staff.

Football

Mondays at GL1 Leisure Centre

Allotment Group

Fridays at Horton Road, Gloucester

Crafts

Wednesdays at Pullman Place

Gym Group

Tuesdays at GL1 Leisure Centre and Wednesdays at YMCA Sports Centre, Cheltenham

Tennis Group

Tuesdays at Oxstalls Sports Centre

Peer Support Group

Tuesdays (Online Group) Alternate Tuesday evenings at Pullman Place

Walking Groups

(Resuming in the Spring)

Cook & Eat Group

Last Thursday of Month at Treasure Seekers

Patient support to STOP smoking

For patients currently supported under the GRiP team we can offer support to stop smoking tobacco cigarettes or roll-ups with a recognised 12 week Nicotine Replacement Therapy programme.

It’s ALWAYS a good time to stop smoking and there are big health, financial and social benefits to be had by quitting!

Speak to your Care Coordinator in the first instance to discuss smoking cessation support.

If you would like to get involved with any of these activities, please speak to your Care Coordinator for further details in the first instance.

What to do in a crisis

Once you are under the GRiP team, your care coordinator will explain what you and your family should do in a crisis. This will be laid out in your care plan and you will have your own copy. If you experience a crisis during office hours (weekdays, 9am – 5pm) you can call GRiP to speak to your care coordinator.

If it is outside of these times or you are not currently under the GRiP team, find out who you can contact in a crisis here.

If it is an emergency please contact the emergency services on 999.