The Early Intervention Service (EIS) is a specialist community mental health team which work with individuals aged between 14 and 65 years in the three years following the first episode of psychosis. Psychosis is a debilitating illness with far reaching implications for the individual and his/her family. It can affect all aspects of life: education and employment, relationships and social functioning, physical and mental wellbeing.
- Dudley EIS work with service users aged 14-64 years.
- Sandwell EIS work with service users aged 14-64 years.
- Walsall EIS work with service users aged 14 - 65 years.
- Wolverhampton EIS work with service users aged 14–35 years.
The team offer intensive interventions aimed at preventing relapse and hospital admission, promoting social and psychological recovery and helping people return to work.
Family support is a core part of the team philosophy. The team works with a variety of youth, community and health agencies to assist people in accessing accommodation, financial support, education, training, work and specialist counselling services. The service works primarily with young adults although referrals are accepted from age 14 (joint working with CAMHS) up to 65.
EIS adopts an assertive outreach approach and provides individualised, comprehensive, evidence based interventions to optimise recovery, prevent relapse and help individuals and their families to cope with their experiences. In doing so, we aim to improve social, physical, psychological and vocational functioning and reduce the short and long term impact of psychosis in line with the EI Care Pathway.
Most activity takes place at venues acceptable to the service user within the community so may vary between homes, town centre or our team base. The service also makes considerable use of other community based facilities such as leisure centres, colleges, Base 25 to ensure opportunities for social inclusion.
The Teams operate from four locality bases – Pond Lane in Wolverhampton, Edward Street Community Base in Sandwell, Lower Ground at Cross Street Health Centre in Dudley and Canalside in Walsall.
Teams comprise of a mixture of professionals including:
- Service Manager
- Clinical lead
- Consultant Psychiatrist
- Speciality Doctor
- Clinical Psychologist
- Community Psychiatric Nurse
- Occupational Therapists
- STR Workers
- CAMHS Practitioner ( Sandwell only)
- Youth Worker (Sandwell Only)
- Medical Secretary
- Administration Officers
Anyone can make a direct referral to EIS by telephone, letter or fax. The service also accepts self-referrals.
EIS does not accept crisis referrals. If the individual is in crisis then the referrer will be directed to make the referral directly to the crisis team and the referral will be followed up by the team to assess whether the individual may be appropriate for assessment by EIS once the crisis is over.
Referral criteria for the service:
- Registered with a GP within the borough of Dudley, Sandwell, Walsall or Wolverhampton
- Aged between 14-64 years in Dudley, 14-64 years in Sandwell, 14-65 years in Walsall, 14- 35 years in Wolverhampton, individuals aged 65 years will be accepted for assessment if the referral is made and assessment is completed prior to their 66th birthday
- Person must live in the borough of Sandwell or Wolverhampton
- Individual has had experiences that are suggestive of a first episode psychosis within the last 6 months and has not received continuous treatment for a period of three months within that time
This service is generally accessed via the Mental Health Assessment Service in Dudley and Early Access Services in Walsall and acute service in both locations, but informal liaison is encouraged from any interested party to reduce delays in access.
If the crisis is during normal working hours then call your team, and a duty worker or care co-ordinator will be able to deal with the emergency.
Out of hours
In Sandwell, the team answer machine message will re-direct people to the appropriate emergency service.
In Wolverhampton, out of out of hours service users can contact out of hours GP service on 111 or contact Penn Hospital 01902 442970 for advice and support.
In Dudley and Walsall, out of hours cover, where indicated, is negotiated via Crisis Resolution and Home Treatment Team.
The Early Intervention in Psychosis (EIP) team are always keen to help share information and resources about psychosis, including training to help people understand psychosis better. Please get in touch with us if you would like to know more.
You can contact the team to talk about:
- Psychosis and/or At Risk Mental State (ARMS)
- If you have a friend/family member cared for by the Early Intervention in Psychosis Service and would like an individual support/information appointment
- If you would like to attend the friends and family information sessions
- If you would like the Early Intervention in Psychosis Service to deliver training for your organisation
Email:
Hours of work are Monday – Friday 9:00-5.00pm. Out of hours cover, where indicated, is negotiated via Crisis Resolution and Home Treatment Team.
Dudley Early Intervention
The service is available Monday to Friday, 9.00am to 5.00pm.
Address: Lower Ground, Cross Street Health Centre, Cross Street, Dudley, DY1 1RN
Telephone: 01384 325 121
Sandwell Early Intervention
The team work Monday to Friday, 9.00am to 5.00pm. Telephone support only is available between 9am to 5pm.
Address: Edward Street Community Base, Edward Street, West Bromwich, B70 8NL
Telephone: 0121 612 6716
Walsall Early Intervention
The service is available Monday to Friday, 9.00am to 5.00pm.
Address: Canalside, Abbotts Street, Bloxwich, Walsall, WS3 3AZ
Telephone: 01922 608 700
Wolverhampton Early Intervention
The service is available Monday to Friday, 9.00am to 5.00pm.
Address: Pond Lane, 44 Pond Lane, Parkfields, Wolverhampton, WV2 1HG
Telephone: 01902 444 447