About us

When to refer to WSIM

Where possible WSIM works alongside other pre-existing support services that have been established within many of the organisations across Coventry and Warwickshire. Therefore, before making a referral it may be helpful to consider the following:

For self-referrals:

• Have you been encouraged to access support available from within your organisation, such as the Employment Assistant Programme e.g., VIVUP, Occupational Health, staff counselling, staff wellbeing leads/champions, or Chaplaincy for support, where these exist?
• Do you require urgent mental health support, have you called the CWPT 24/7 mental health helpline on 0808 1966 798?
•  Are you currently under the care of a secondary/specialist mental health service, or currently receiving treatment for a long term/enduring mental ill health condition? If this is the case, it is unlikely that WSIM might be able to offer any support in addition to secondary care. If you have any queries about this a conversation may be useful prior to referral.

Some staff have let WSIM know that they have felt overwhelmed and confused by the number of wellbeing offers available and are unsure about which support offer would be most appropriate to them. WSIM can help support you to navigate these offers and help them access the right services.

For managers/concerned colleagues:

• Has the staff member been encouraged to access support available from within their organisation, such as their Employment Assistant Programme e.g., VIVUP, Occupational Health, staff counselling where these exist, staff wellbeing leads/champions, or Chaplaincy for support?
• If the staff member requires urgent mental health support, have they called the CWPT 24/7 mental health helpline on 0808 1966 798?

• Is the staff member currently under the care of a secondary/specialist mental health service, or currently receiving treatment for a long term/enduring mental ill health condition? If this is the case, it is unlikely that WSIM might be able to offer any support in addition to secondary care. If you have any queries about this a conversation may be useful prior to referral.

What the Hub is not:

Although the Hub can provide support and advice on a diverse range of issues, please note that it is not a Crisis service, nor is it a mental health service. WSIM is here to support staff with their emotional wellbeing and point them in the right direction to find the most appropriate help. Therefore, we will not be able to directly offer an alternative to secondary care mental health services or urgent/crisis intervention. If you are concerned about immediate risk, you will need to contact the staff member’s GP or consider seeking other emergency health care.

What can the Hubs support staff with?

The WSIM Hub is here to provide advice and can point staff in the right direction of finding the help they deserve.

WSIM offer the following:

• Rapid access to specialist psychological assessment
• Advice, consultation, and onward referral where appropriate
• Access to some evidence based brief interventions
• Advice for managers regarding concerns they have about a staff member
• We can also offer advice and support to managers/leaders, as well as offering sessions and workshops to teams who feel they are struggling as a collective group.

 

WSIM can provide support for several issues that staff may be experiencing. These include (but are not limited to):

• Stress and promoting resilience
• Anxiety and low mood
• Bereavement and grief
• Trauma (e.g., stemming from COVID-19)
• Sleep issues
• Burnout
• Substance misuse

If you have either been referred, waiting, or receiving support from our colleagues in secondary care (for example you are receiving support from a Community Mental Health Team, IPU 3-8.)  If this is the case, it is unlikely that WSIM might be able to offer any support in addition to secondary care. however, WSIM can offer a 30 minute consulattaion over telephone to best give you advice and guidance on treatment.

What to expect from the 30 minute consultation?

 

1. Brief outline of your difficulties

I.We would be keen to hear a very brief outline of the issues you are experiencing

II.What support you are already receiving from NHS services for the issues

III.What you have already accessed/tried to help manage the distress you are experiencing

 

2. Advice/guidance

There would be an opportunity to think together about what additional resources may be helpful for you at this time to support you whilst waiting for you to receive the support from secondary care.

3. Confidentiality

All information provided will be kept confidential within WSIM. We have our own independent systems which means that services outside of WSIM are unable to access. There are however limits to our confidentiality particularly if from the information you provide there are concerns raised about your safety or the safety of someone one else. In these instances, we would let you know that we would need to share this information with other organisations, and we would endeavour to inform you of what information will be shared with which organisations before doing so.

What if I need some support in the meantime?
 
Mental Health Matters 24-hour telephone number: 0800 616171 landline or 0300 330 5487 mobile.
 
The Telephone Helpline consists of a team of highly trained and experienced support workers who use counselling skills to provide you with emotional guidance and information.
 You might choose to call them if:
 
• You may be feeling low, anxious or stressed and feel talking to another person might help you cope
 • You may be in extreme emotional distress and feel that there is nowhere else to turn
 • You may be caring for another person and finding it difficult to cope.
 

Contacting the Helpline can give you a feeling of relief, wellbeing and peace of mind. You won’t be judged, and the service is confidential unless they consider that there is a risk to yourself or others.

You can also contact the Samaritans if you just want to talk to someone on: 116 123.
 
What if things become worse for me?
 
If things do start to become worse for you, please go back to your GP. If you need to see a doctor or nurse urgently, between 6.30pm and 8.00am, Monday to Friday or any time on a Saturday or Sunday (and Bank Holidays) and it cannot wait until your GP is open, please telephone 0300 130 30 40.

With Staff In Mind is not an emergency service, but there are other services that can support you in a crisis such as the Mental Health Access Hub on 08081 966798 and press option 1 for adult mental health.