The Psychology Service
Therapy Division

Our mission is to provide a service of excellence. At all times we ensure the quality of our work which is achieved through:

• Consultant Selection
• Case Allocation
• Monitoring and Supervision
• Red Flag Procedure
• Education and Training
• Therapy Guidelines
• Client Confidential Satisfaction Questionnaire
• Complaints Management

Consultant Selection

We recruit only well qualified mental health professionals, who have substantial experience in treatment of people suffering from trauma related conditions. They all have extensive experience and specialist training in the main treatment approaches we use i.e. CBT and EMDR.

Our selection process includes: reviewing CV’s; clinical interview by one of the Directors; obtaining references; and verification of qualifications, professional accreditation and professional indemnity insurance.

Case Allocation

All referrals for psychological therapy are reviewed by one of the Directors prior to allocation in order to ensure the most appropriate therapist is instructed, in terms of relevant skills, experience and location of the therapist.

Monitoring and supervision

All our Consultants are supervised throughout the course of therapy for each referral they undertake from The Psychology Service. Supervision ensures that cases are appropriately clinically managed. The frequency of supervision is dictated by the complexity of the case. However, Consultants can contact their Case Supervisor at any time should the need arise for example if the client is experiencing crisis or appears at risk (see Red Flag procedure below).

Red Flag Procedure

If a Consultant is concerned about a particular client, and feels that they may be at risk e.g. of self harm, then we have a “Red Flag” procedure, which includes the Consultant talking to the Supervisor after each therapy session. The Red Flag procedure also includes an explicit agreement between the Consultant and Supervisor as to any communications/liaison that may be required (e.g. with the client’s own GP or with local Mental Health services). All decisions are specifically recorded for risk management purposes.

Education and training

While all our Consultants are already well trained and qualified, we also emphasise continuing professional development (CPD). We expect them to keep up to date with therapeutic developments. As a service, we also arrange special training for our Consultants in particular areas, such as EMDR.

Therapy Guidelines

We provide for our Consultants a range of guidelines for therapy. Whilst as independent and experienced professionals, they are clinically responsible for their work, these guidelines are intended to be supplementary and to provide assistance and support.

Confidential Client Satisfaction Questionnaire

After discharge, every client is asked to complete a confidential Client Satisfaction Questionnaire, which addresses the clients’ experience of the therapist, the therapeutic process and outcome. Questionnaires are monitored as part of the service’s commitment to quality assurance.

Complaints

Fortunately we have very few complaints. However, we have a robust complaints management process. Our Complaints Manager, Dr Valerie Kaye, has extensive experience in investigating and dealing with complaints at a senior level within the NHS.