Psychologists at North East London NHS Foundation Trust (NELFT) and University College London (UCL) have developed a new framework to improve mental health inpatients’ psychological wellbeing through a range of “psychosocial” treatments, hoping to reduce the overreliance on medical treatments. 

The competency framework aims to drive a focus on improving a patient’s psychological wellbeing and social functioning through interventions such as talking therapies, self-help material and support with coping strategies to help improve a person's quality of life.

It also provides a structure of the skills and knowledge required by professionals, as well as setting out exactly what can be expected from a well-functioning service for patients, families and carers. 

Care pathway lead for inpatient psychology at NELFT and one of the lead authors of the framework, Dr. Lisa Wood, said:

“Inpatients want access to psychosocial interventions when in hospital but often do not receive them due to a reliance on medical treatments. This framework aims to improve hospital care for mental health patients with complex needs by outlining the skills and knowledge staff need to deliver effective psychosocial treatments.”

The framework has been developed by researchers and clinicians at UCL and NELFT - it has been endorsed by the Royal College of Nursing and the National Collaborating Centre for Mental Health, which is a collaboration between UCL, the Royal College of Psychiatrists, the British Psychological Society, and the Association of Clinical Psychologists.

You can find the new framework here.