Discovering Hope and Support with the Powys EIP Team
Living with or supporting someone experiencing early signs of psychosis can feel overwhelming, but help is closer than you think. In this article, we shine a spotlight on the Powys Early Intervention in Psychosis (EIP) Service, which has been supporting individuals and families across Powys since 2016.
Through conversation, we explore the team’s inspiring journey, their person-centered approach, and the incredible difference they make in the lives of those they support. You’ll meet the compassionate professionals behind the service, learn about the values that guide their work, and discover how they combine physical health, mental well-being, and community engagement to foster recovery and resilience.
Who do Early Intervention (EI) support?
Your local Early Intervention (EI) team are a new community based service who can meet people in a wide range of places, either at home, at a clinical base or in a neutral space, for example at a coffee shop or other public areas.
The Powys EI team currently support people aged 18 to 25 who are experiencing early symptoms of psychosis or have experienced untreated psychotic symptoms within the last 2 years.
How to Access the Service
GP or health professionals can refer via the local community mental health team where the Early Intervention Link worker or Duty worker will triage the referral. Family and or friends can also refer via an Early Intervention Practitioner.
What to Expect From the Service
The Early Intervention in Psychosis Service can provide up to 3 years of support which can include:
- Education relating to symptoms and coping strategies.
- Relapse prevention work.
- Support in getting back into work.
- Support in getting back into education.
- Recovery from Psychosis.
- Medication interventions.
- An Information Hub.
- Family interventions and family education around signs and symptoms of psychosis.
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy relating to symptoms and coping strategies.
- Peer Support groups.
- Referral to voluntary/charity support services.
Meet the Powys EIP Team: Supporting Your Path to Recovery and Wellness
The Powys Early Intervention in Psychosis (EIP) Service is dedicated to offering compassionate, personalised care for those experiencing early signs of psychosis. The team works tirelessly to provide support, empowerment, and hope for individuals on their recovery journey. We had the opportunity to speak with several team members to understand their roles, what motivates them, and how they ensure each person receives the highest level of care. Here’s a glimpse into the incredible work they do.
Lisa
Assistant Practitioner, EIP team in the South of Powys
Works both 1:1 and in group settings with individuals who are experiencing or have experienced psychotic symptoms.
Ruth
Assistant Practitioner, EIP team in the North of Powys
Works both 1:1 and in group settings with individuals who are experiencing or have experienced psychotic symptoms.
Dani
Early Intervention Practitioner
Qualified psychiatric nurse who has recently completed a Independent prescribing course.
Andy
Early Intervention Practitioner
Qualified psychiatric nurse with previous experience of, – PICU, Psychiatric liaison, Specialist drug and alcohol services. Andy is currently working towards a CBT qualification.
Beverley
Administration Support
Beverly plays a crucial role in keeping everything running smoothly.
Cally
Team Lead
Cally has awealth of experience from her time working with the CMHHT in Cwm Taff and the Powys Crisis Team.
What Inspired Them to Work in Early Intervention for Psychosis
All team members have a deep passion for supporting individuals with mental health challenges. As they shared: “We have always felt passionate about helping individuals with mental health issues. For us it is important that the individuals that we work with are seen as a person and not just their mental illness.” With an emphasis that Early Intervention in Psychosis (EIP) allows them the opportunity to
“see the optimism of working in EIP, the narrative that recovery is achievable.”
Personal Insights and Conenction
So, what makes a “good day” for the Powys EIP team? For them, it’s about connecting with service users in meaningful ways—whether that’s playing badminton, going for walks, or simply sharing a cup of coffee. As one team member put it: “A good day for us is when we are out and about on visits, playing badminton, walking outdoors or just having a coffee and chat with someone in town. Seeing a patient becoming confident outside their comfort zone and trying something new is what makes it a ‘good day.’”
They find joy in watching individuals push themselves out of their comfort zones, seeing them overcome obstacles and grow in confidence. Knowing that they’ve made a difference in someone’s life is what motivates them to keep going. As another team member said: “Seeing the individuals that we work with overcoming huge obstacles in their lives and being able to support them to do this makes every day worthwhile.”
Trust and rapport with service users are built through empathy, active listening, and consistent support. “We do this through being friendly, empathetic, listening and trying to understand without judgment, offering reassurance, and validating feelings.”
“Psychosis is nothing to be ashamed of. People can and do recover.”
If you or someone you know is experiencing early signs of psychosis, the team’s advice is simple: reach out for support. Psychosis is nothing to be ashamed of, and treatment is available. The EIP service provides not only medical care but also psychoeducation, psychological support, and assistance with accessing education, meaningful activities, and even financial support.
Team Collaboration & Service Delivery
The strength of the Powys EIP team lies in its collaboration. Weekly team meetings allow the team to share evidence-based ideas, ensuring that each person receives the best care possible. “We have weekly team meetings; these meetings give us the opportunity to discuss ideas and suggestions that are evidenced based and support the individual’s recovery journey.” The team works closely with psychiatrists, psychologists, and third-sector agencies, pooling their knowledge and expertise to support each service user’s recovery.
Each member brings unique skills and qualities to the service, from creative thinking to professional qualifications, creating an environment where everyone feels supported and valued. As the team shared: “Each team member brings their own qualities and personality that help carry the service. Each of us are creative in our own way, and we often bounce ideas off one another to develop new initiatives and group activities.”
Through this teamwork, service users and their families are able to feel heard and supported during their journey toward recovery.
Core Values and Approach
The values that guide the team’s work include person-centered care, co-production, and a commitment to effective communication. This approach helps to create a safe and effective environment for individuals experiencing psychosis. Additionally, the team integrates physical health into mental well-being by offering physical health screenings and supporting lifestyle changes.
“In line with EIP services in Wales, we are committed to working toward Improving physical health monitoring by creating a bespoke physical health programme designed around young people. To achieve this, we ensure all young people under EIP are offered physical health screening that covers all 7 identified components – smoking, alcohol, substance use, Body Mass Index (BMI), blood glucose, blood pressure and blood lipids. Offering physical health intervention through the LEAP programme to 100% of young people that need them.
Having discussions around lifestyle and physical wellbeing as routine and integral to everyone’s professional and social responsibility.
we also offer a range of physical activities to all of our patients of all physical abilities. These can vary from outdoor walks, climbing to playing badminton.”
Community engagement is another key element of the team’s work. By encouraging service users to participate in local events, such as group walks and gardening projects, the team helps individuals connect with others and gain a sense of accomplishment.
“We are always looking for groups and events in the community that our young people can get involved in. To date we have attended several local group walking events and community gardening groups which have given our service users a great sense of achievement as well as the opportunity to meet others.”
The team has many success stories, but one that stands out is an adventure therapy session that involved rock climbing and caving. Many of the service users had never experienced these activities before, but with support from the team, they all pushed past their fears and achieved something they never thought possible.
“As part of our adventure therapy sessions, we went rock climbing and caving. The majority of our patients have never done these activities before, so it was quite daunting, even for us practitioners. The patients were all supporting and motivating one another and even supporting us practitioners. We were all out of our comfort zones, but everyone smashed it. Such an achievement and confidence boost.”
“All patients will have their own unique set of symptoms and experiences, according to their circumstances. Therefore, it is important that we acknowledge the person and not just the illness. Furthermore, their individual goals are also unique too and no goal should be considered too small. “
Looking ahead, the team is eager to continue expanding and promoting the EIP service. With new initiatives, such as Dani’s independent prescribing and Andy’s ongoing CBT training, the team is committed to enhancing the support available to those in need.
“We are always working to promote EIP by spreading awareness. We hope that this allows for us to reach all individuals who require our support. This has also allowed us to integrate with other services. We would love to have our own interprofessional team at some point in the future.”
The Powys EIP team’s message is clear: recovery is possible. Whether you are a service user or a family member, they are here to offer support, encouragement, and hope. “We hope that we can instil hope, whether that is to the patient themselves or to carers and families. We want them to know that they are not alone, support is available, and recovery is possible.”
If you or someone you know is considering reaching out for help, don’t hesitate to take that first step. The Powys EIP team is ready to guide you on your journey to recovery, with compassion, expertise, and the belief that everyone deserves a chance to thrive.
The EIP Team work from a number of different sites across the length and breadth of Powys.
The South Powys Team can be contacted on:
07929 781 794
The North Powys Team can be contacted on:
07876 714 117
Both teams can be contacted using the following email address: EIPPowys@wales.nhs.uk