• Information to help you through your experience of psychosis and support your recovery

Your Care Plan

  • WHAT IS A CARE PLAN?

    A care plan is a carefully constructed plan of action, tailored specifically for you, to start you on your journey towards leading as healthy and successful life as possible. The timeframe it covers can be up to three years and it will include a combination of support and treatments which will be discussed with you.

  • The care plan will include details of your care coordinator and contact details if you need to contact them between meetings.

    It also identifies a secondary contact, if you are unable to get in touch with your care coordinator straight away.

    You will work with your care coordinator to identify your strengths and goals. It’s important to agree someone amongst your own support network – such as a parent, trusted friend or carer – who you’re happy to speak on your behalf and can be contacted if there are any concerns.

    Download Care Plan

  • The care plan will identify:

    • Your symptoms and needs
    • Your thoughts on those symptoms and any issues
    • What you want to achieve and by when
    • How you’ll achieve this, with help
    • Who is going to help you and who will be the lead on supporting you.

  • Once you are happy with your care plan, the care plan is signed by you, your family member or carer, the care coordinator and then a copy is sent to your GP.

    Moving forward, depending on your needs you will be asked to meet with professions who specialise in supporting people with those particular needs. This can feel daunting, so your care coordinator will go with you to talk to the different experts in your care team. This might include: peer workers, psychiatrists, psychologists, nurses, social workers, occupational therapists or employment specialists.

  • Your first steps

    Sometimes the experience of psychosis can lead you to feel scared, ashamed or nervous. It’s important to remember that help is at hand for you and your family.

    Here are some suggestions on how you might prepare to express your concerns to your GP or mental health professional:

    • Write down any symptoms you’ve had
    • Write down key personal information
    • Make a list of all medications and drugs you’re taking
    • Write down questions to ask your doctor
    • Take a family member or trusted friend along.

  • Meeting your care coordinator

    We understand that the ‘first step’ to getting help might feel more like a leap into the unknown.

    But, when you’re ready, the Early Intervention in Psychosis (EIP) team is here to support you. Following referral to a care coordinator your first meeting with them will be arranged. You will meet at a place and time that is best for you, where you feel most comfortable. This could be a café, local park or at home and you can bring a friend or family member along too – we want you to feel at ease.

  • A care coordinator is a qualified clinician who is also your key supporter – they want to get to know you and listen carefully to your experience of psychosis and how it’s affected you so that they can support you to lead a healthy and successful life as possible.

  • Your care coordinator will plan, together with you, to identify the best method of treatment.

    We support you and your family, for up to three years to help you to achieve recovery and get on with your life.

YOUR CARE COORDINATOR

  • A care coordinator is a qualified mental health professional e.g. mental health nurse, Occupational Therapist or Social Worker who will be the main contact for your supporting your mental health needs. They will work collaboratively with you and your family, initially on a weekly-to-fortnightly basis to support you throughout your journey with the Early Intervention in Psychosis team. Your care coordinator will discuss your needs and goals with you and help you to think about and make a care plan.

  • They work side by side with you and your family to help your recovery.

    They understand that sometimes daily tasks can feel impossible. So, they get to know you and help you overcome your challenges, one step at a time. Sometimes, this can be through encouragement and planning or by helping you access other support such as Youth and Support Groups.

  • The aim of the Early Intervention in Psychosis service is to assist you so that you can lead as independent a life as possible and have the same opportunities as everyone else.

  • Dawn

    Dawn has been working as a care coordinator with people living with psychosis. A big part of Dawn’s role is building trust and enabling people to engage in the process.

CHANGING YOUR CARE PLAN

  • A care plan represents your wishes and plans which will help you with your recover. Your care plan is usually updated and changed every six months, but it can be changed with you whenever circumstances change.

    It might be that your mental health, your family situation, housing, schooling or work situation has changed. This ensures that you receive the support you need, the care plan is updated and tailored to your most current needs.