The Early Intervention Service (EIS)

The Early Intervention Service (EIS) specialises in working with individuals aged 14 to 35 at risk of, or currently experiencing, first episode psychosis. Young adults between 14 and 16 will ordinarily access the service via a Child and Adolescent Mental Health Team. There are specific workers within the Early Intervention Team who link with these services and the overall management of these people will involve a joint working approach to ensure that a holistic view of need is taken.

In essence the service aims: 

• To promote adjustment and recovery from psychosis during the critical period by early therapeutic intervention and if clinically indicated, including the prescription of anti-psychotic medication.
• Reduce the length of time psychosis in young people or adults remains undiagnosed and untreated.
• Prevent admission to acute inpatient services.
• Optimise the management of psychosis and any other co-morbidity problems.
• Reduce re-admission rate or length of stay (LOS) for clients served by the EIP service.
• Maintain or encourage access to employment or educational placements for all service users

The service provides a range of therapeutic approaches such as: 

• Psycho-social Interventions
• Cognitive behavioural therapy
• Family interventions
• Medication

The service aims to increase stability in the lives of service users and facilitate development and opportunities for personal fulfilment. This will often mean working in non-stigmatising locations in innovative ways that differ from most conventional secondary mental health services.

There are three multi-disciplinary spoke teams and a hub team which provide the same offer throughout the whole of the Lancashire footprint. 

• East: The Mount, Whalley Road, Accrington, BB5 1AR - Tel: 01254 226390
• Central: Euxton Lodge, 16 Euxton Lane, Chorley, PR7 1PS – Tel: Tel: 01772 645761
• North: Second Floor, Blackpool Football Stadium, Seasiders Way, Blackpool, FY1 6JX – Tel: 01253 657470 

Duty cover is available Monday – Friday until 8pm and partial duty cover is available over the weekend. Otherwise, the answerphone service can be used out of hours. 

The services supports young people and adults aged 14 – 35 as described above who meet the all of the following eligibility criteria. 

1. Age 14-35 (up to 36^th birthday)
2. Registered with a Lancashire GP OR living in the Trust area without a local GP eg. attending a local university, in a local prison, or homeless 

Psychotic symptoms that meet one of the following criteria: 

1. first presentation with troubling psychotic symptoms, when these symptoms have been present continuously at this level for less than three years OR
2. in the first three years of treatment for psychotic symptoms as defined in (a) OR
3. assessed as having minor psychotic symptoms which may escalate to become troubling 

Somebody with an identified severe learning disability would not normally be picked up by this service unless it was felt they were able to access the kinds of support that the service provides. The service would provide consultation and advice to help others who are working with them, as appropriate. 

Those who are eligible to receive the service will do so free of charge. The team aim to see new referrals within a couple of weeks to begin the assessment.

The service aims are to increase stability in the lives of service users and facilitate development and opportunities for personal fulfilment.

The service aims to undertake a comprehensive assessment once it is clear that the referral meets the basic eligibility criteria. They can then decide how best to help them, either in a supportive way if the problems are not so bad, or in a more intensive way. The team are able to offer a range of therapeutic interventions to help address problems. Sometimes the service will need to suggest and help them access a service which may be better suited to meet their needs. 

Duty cover is available Monday – Friday until 8pm and partial duty cover is available over the weekend. Otherwise, the answerphone service can be used out of hours.