1. The Lancashire and South Cumbria Traumatic Stress Service (LSCTSS) accepts referrals from secondary care services such as community mental health teams and aims to undertake trauma specific work in the context of care co-ordination and on-going local service involvement.

2. The following information aims to clarify the two-stage referral procedure to the service.

3. Firstly, telephone 01772 647071 (Wednesday, Thursday or Friday only) to arrange a telephone conversation with a member of the CORE team.

4. The conversation with the team member aims to ensure:

  • that the person is experiencing severe or extreme reactions to a trauma and/or trauma experiences.
  • that this is a good time for them to do some focussed work on these particular problems and they are motivated to do so
  • that they are over 16 years of age
  • that they have a care co-ordinator or key worker (*)

5. To assist in the conversation please complete the PCL5 (Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist 5) with your client within the last month - and have a total score available.

6. Please ensure that you are clear about the traumatic event the person is holding in mind when responding to the questions in the PCL-5. If the discussion suggests that the involvement of the trauma service may be helpful, we will then offer your patient an initial assessment meeting with us to clarify the difficulties in more detail. As the referrer, you would be very welcome to join this meeting.

7. Following the discussion with the service user, the case will be considered and a view taken regarding LSCTSS involvement. Possible outcomes of the initial assessment meeting include:

  • Addition to the LSCTSS therapy waiting list for more detailed assessment and trauma-focused therapy
  • Clarification as to why a referral to the LSCTSS may not be appropriate at this time
  • Suggestions regarding potential areas of psycho-education, therapy and treatment that may be helpful for the service user

8. These outcomes will be communicated to the service user and the care co-ordinator in ways that seem sensitive and helpful.

 

(*) It is anticipated that LSCTSS, as part of the ongoing Community Transformation Programme, will undertake the keyworker role for some service users

 

Lancashire and South Cumbria staff referrals

The Lancashire and South Cumbria Traumatic Stress (LSCTSS) is able to accept referrals for LSCft staff experiencing trauma related difficulties.

All referrals should be made to the Occupational Health Service in the first instance and following assessment they can be referred to LSCTSS if deemed appropriate.

Only in exceptional circumstances would we accept a direct manager referral.

Please note: LSCTSS uses RiO as the clinical recording system, so staff would be required to agree to their clinical records being recorded and held on RiO if they are referred to the service.

If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact the service on 01772 647071 or LSCTSS@lscft.nhs.uk