The Access to Recovery Programme provides support and structure for service users with various mental health diagnoses.
Access to Recovery is a day patient programme for service users here in St Patrick’s Mental Health Services (SPMHS).
It is guided by recovery principles and provides high levels of support, motivation and education.
While this is a group programme, it is also designed to meet the individual needs of each service user who attends.
What the programme covers
Access to Recovery offers service users a safe place to talk about their mental health difficulties, to receive support, and to learn recovery techniques. It gives service users the opportunity to learn coping skills to manage their recovery on a daily basis.
The programme focuses on:
- Group-based peer support
- Decider skills
- Communications skills
- Goal setting
- Strengths
- Self-care.
Throughout the programme, service users can learn from each other and grow in a mutually understanding environment.
The programme is delivered in a team approach, with input from and facilitation by mental health nurses and our Social Work Department.
When the programme takes place
Access to Recovery runs from 9.30am to 1pm on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. The programme takes place in a hybrid format on Mondays, offering either in-person attendance onsite in St Patrick’s University Hospital or remote attendance through Microsoft (MS) Teams. The group takes place online only through MS Teams on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.
Service users can attend one, two, or three mornings a week, using flexible options. The days they attend are agreed between the service user and the programme facilitators, and can be reviewed during the programme.
Who the programme is for
Access to Recovery is suitable for service users who:
- have recently been discharged and wish to take part in a group-based support system
- are receiving care in a Dean Clinic and require extra supports
- are waiting to begin a specific programme
- need support ahead of an inpatient admission
- have acute mental health difficulties that require a high level of support, but not in an inpatient setting
- require a level of support and who may be at risk, but are willing to engage in ongoing assessment
- are abstinent from drugs/alcohol.
The programme team has final approval of who can attend the programme.
How do referrals work?
Service users must already be under the care of SPMHS to be referred to Access to Recovery. Referrals are welcome from our multidisciplinary teams (MDTs), the Referrals and Assessments Service, other day programme teams, and the Dean Clinic teams.
For more information on Access to Recovery, please email accesstorecovery@stpatricks.ie.
