Psychologically Informed Consultation and Training (PICT) is a new service that empowers GPs and professionals working across Primary care, social care and third sector organisations to work effectively with people who use their services who have complex emotional needs or personality disorder.

The aim of the PICT model is to enable people with difficulties associated with personality disorder to have a more positive and meaningful life by increasing knowledge and understanding of their symptoms and the challenges they face, among professionals who are providing support.    

PICT achieves this by upskilling professionals through consultation and training to help them work with confidence and compassion when engaging with people in this group. 

How does PICT work?

The PICT approach is to consult with the professional (individuals or teams) rather than work directly with the person using services.
This approach enhances the experience of people who have complex emotional needs or personality disorder and provides professionals with a valuable service that is accessible and quick to put in place. The benefits achieved are sustainable beyond the PICT input.
PICT is made up of clinical psychologists and psychotherapists and a PICT trainer with lived experience of personality disorder. They provide expert consultation and training that is informed by psychological principles.  

Key aims of PICT:

People with personality disorder or traits of the condition often experience complex emotional difficulties that can have a significant impact on their quality of life and which are not always easily identified or understood. 

The key aims are to:

  • help the primary, social care and third sector workforce to learn more about the development of personality disorder and the associated difficulties.
  • develop the knowledge and skill base within teams to increase their confidence and compassion to better support people managing this condition
  • reduce pressure on teams who are affected by the emotional impact of working with people with these difficulties
  • help to reduce the need for people in this group to frequently seek support
  • support the early detection of personality disorder in people and, using a psychologically informed approach, increase understanding and identification of appropriate services.
  • Improve people’s experience of using services as a result of the above developments and also the experience of professionals providing support

Training

Bespoke training sessions are offered to help staff working in a broad range of primary health, social care and third sector settings across Surrey and NE Hampshire to improve knowledge and understanding of personality disorder. The training also helps staff to better manage relationships with people who have been diagnosed with personality disorder or who have traits of the condition.  All our training is developed and delivered by a trainer who has lived experience of personality disorder and a clinician.


Topics covered in training

  • Improved understanding of personality disorder and how to work effectively with people who are trying to manage the symptoms connected with this condition
  • How to talk about personality disorder with a person you are supporting
  • Self-harm, suicide and risk: important issues to consider when supporting a person with personality disorder
  • Help in managing relationships with people in this group. This may cover:
    • creating effective boundaries 
    • managing the emotional demand of working with people with these difficulties 
    • clarifying the professional’s role in providing support
    • understanding the different attachment styles and how best to engage with a person
  • Training in the nationally recognised Knowledge and Understanding Framework (KUF) to improve understanding of personality disorder (one and three-day courses offered) 
  • Training for GP reception staff and administrators on understanding personality disorder and managing difficult interactions.

Who can apply for Training?

Our training is tailored to meet the needs of individual teams/organisations who have regular contact with people who have complex emotional needs, difficulties associated with personality disorder or a formal diagnosis of personality disorder. The following organisations can all apply for training:

  • All staff in GP practices in Surrey and NE Hampshire (GPs, district nurses, admin staff)
  • All GP Integrated Mental Health Service (GPimhs) or Mental Health Integrated Care Service (MHICS) teams
  • Health, social care and third sector organisations across Surrey and NE Hampshire that support people in the community, such as social services, third sector providers, housing, the police, paramedics and other emergency services. This list is not exhaustive so if you are not sure if you are eligible please get in touch, by completing a request form for training (see information on how to do this below)

Request Training

Training is currently provided virtually on Microsoft Teams. Once restrictions ease further, we plan to offer a combination of face to face and virtual training sessions. 

To make a request for training, please click on this link and complete the form.

 


 

Consultation

A consultation service is also offered to GPs across Surrey and NE Hampshire and teams that are part of the GP Integrated Mental Health Service (GPimhs) or Mental Health Integrated Care Service (MHICS) enabling them to request advice and support in managing individual cases.

The service provides specific advice and support on managing and understanding the needs of a person with personality disorder or traits of the condition. In providing you with advice to help one person, the aim is that you will be well placed to support many more people. 

The service can:

  • help you to develop an understanding of a person’s presentation (known as ‘formulation)
  • provides you with guidance on how to manage/support an individual. You are then able to use this experience to support others  
  • work with you to understand the impact of the person’s behaviours on other members of your team 
  • help you to think about how best to support a person to help reduce the demands they are placing on services and resources.

How are consultations delivered?
Consultations are currently offered virtually using Microsoft Teams and, depending on the requirement, are offered either as a

  • 1:1 with a PICT team member

Or as a

  • group consultation with a PICT team member

The initial consultation will last up to an hour. Further meetings may be needed if the PICT team member needs to go away and consult further sources of information to develop a more comprehensive psychologically informed formulation on which to base recommendations.  The point at which the consultee feels confident to put into action any recommendations, the consultation work will be closed.  In some cases, a follow-up consultation at an agreed time interval will be arranged to consolidate learning or trouble shoot further issues that may have arose. 
 

Who can apply for a Consultation?

  • GPs in practices based in Surrey and NE Hampshire 
  • All GP Integrated Mental Health Service (GPimhs) or Mental Health Integrated Care Service (MHICS) teams
     

Request a Consultation

To make a request for a consultation, please click on this link and complete the form

Weekly Consultation Clinics

The PICT service offers a virtual, weekly consultation clinic to support GPs, GPimhs and MHICS for teams based in Surrey and NE Hampshire on Tuesdays at 2-3pm and Thursday at 12-1pm. These clinics are for professionals to discuss people they are working with who have personality disorder or traits of the condition and to seek advice on issues such as difficult interactions, risk management and engagement. There will be time for a brief 1:1 consultation with a PICT clinician and a PICT lived experience practitioner. If appropriate, further consultation with a PICT team member can be arranged.

To book a consultation either email pict.admin@sabp.nhs.uk or by completing our online consultation form

If you are unable to attend the clinics above, we would be happy to offer you an alternative time and date that is more suitable for you.  Please contact pict.admin@sabp.nhs.uk or complete our online consultation form to arrange this.

Contact us

For informal enquiries about PICT please email pict.admin@sabp.nhs.uk or contact the PICT administrator on: 07880 309893