Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) is a service offered by Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) that can aid our clients on health benefits who are experiencing depression and anxiety disorders. Despite the fact that mental health issues account for nearly 40% of the reasons for people claiming health benefits, and a third of GPs' time, only a third of people with depression and less than a quarter of those with anxiety are in treatment.
As all clients on health benefits in Newham will join one of our programmes at some point, we are in a unique position to work with the PCT to encourage clients to self-refer for treatment. One of the aims of the IAPT intervention is to help people stay employed or to encourage a return to work as part of a therapeutic strategy, which ties in with our holistic approach of tackling health and unemployment issues concurrently.
The service is highly flexible, and offers a range of low-intensity support options such as telephone appointments, computer-based support or one-to-one appointments. Ingeus clients referred to IAPT are able to access Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and other mental health support that complements the work of our in-house specialists. The treatments provided can help people overcome stress, anxiety, panic, trauma and other common mental health problems.
Newham was one of the first pilot areas for the IAPT model, and our relationship with the PCTs in City and East London is highly developed. We are the largest non-PCT referring body to IAPT Newham and have an established feedback loop with the IAPT team to share information about client progress.
Following the success of this partnership, Hackney PCT is also in the process of rolling out a similar IAPT service, and they are currently using our experience in Newham as a model of best practice.
Our successful partnership with Improving Access to Psychological Therapies Newham is used as an example of best practice by Hackney PCT.