Welcome information
What is VitaMinds and IAPT
VitaMinds is the name of Vita Health Group’s free NHS Mental Health talking therapies service. IAPT stands
for ‘Improving Access to Psychological Therapies’ the Department of Health’s name for the service. We offer
a range of short-term psychological therapies to adults 16 years and over.
How will my appointment be carried out?
Your initial assessment will be with one of our experienced therapists who will assess you over the
telephone to understand your needs and expectations. They will then assist in providing advice and
guidance about your condition or agree an appropriate next step in your care. You will be called on a date
and time agreed with you and will be asked a series of questions about your current psychological
difficulties.
What do I need to do before the call?
You will be emailed a link to an online questionnaire. It is important that this is done at least 2 days before
your initial assessment appointment. We recommend you complete this to get the most out of your
assessment.
Is there anything else I need to consider?
As the assessment is by telephone, please ensure you are in a quiet location where you feel comfortable to
answer our questions and engage with your therapist, and that your telephone has good signal to receive
the call.
Our call may show as a withheld/private number, so please be prepared to answer. Our therapist will call
you at the time of your assessment appointment. If you do not answer, we will try you two further times in
the 15 minutes from your appointment time. If you do not answer, you will be discharged from the service.
What happens next?
Following the assessment, both you and your therapist will decide together what treatment would best suit
your needs. There are several treatment options such as groups, online therapy and face to face therapy,
delivered via a video platform. As an NHS IAPT service, we do our utmost to see all our patients for
treatment within the NHS guidelines. The time you will wait for your treatment to start will depend on the
type of treatment agreed with you.
What if I am in urgent need of help?
We are not an emergency service and are not able to help with immediate crisis situations. If you need
immediate help, please go to the Accident and Emergency Department of your local hospital (24hrs) or
request an ambulance. Alternatively, if you’re experiencing a crisis and need a person talk things through
with, you can contact the Samaritans on 116 123 or search for Crisis Teams in your area. Please remember
to inform your GP if you have obtained emergency assistance.
What if English is not my first language?
If you do not feel comfortable conversing in English, a telephone interpreter can be provided for your
sessions. We will organise this for you with the cost covered by the NHS. Please notify our team in advance
of your appointment if an interpreter is required.
What if I need to cancel?
Please call 0333 094 5595 as soon as you know you will be unable to make an appointment. We request
that cancellations be made at least 24 hours prior to the appointment. Should you wish to cancel over the
weekend or out of hours, please leave a message on our answer machine.
Our cancellation policy is intended to avoid unnecessary loss of appointments which can lead to increased
waiting times. We understand it can be unavoidable to cancel your appointment and these circumstances
will always be considered, if you inform us that you are unable to attend.
• If you fail to attend your telephone assessment or your first treatment appointment, you will be
discharged from our service.
• Frequently cancelling your appointments with more than 24 hours’ notice may also lead to discharge.
What if I am running late?
If you are running late for an appointment, please contact us so that we can inform the therapist of an
estimated time. To ensure you are given sufficient time in your appointment you may be asked to
reschedule to another day and time.
Consent to Treatment
Your therapist will explain to you on your first session the process of therapy and the treatment protocol you
have been triaged for. The therapist will discuss confidentiality, our discharge and attendance policy and there
will be time for you to voice any questions regarding these. You can choose to consent or decline a treatment
if you so wish.
Consent to manage your appointments
We can only discuss your appointments with you, this includes canceling of appointments. If you are happy for
someone else to manage your appointments on your behalf, then please notify the therapist during your initial
assessment.
Will my information be shared with anyone else?
Anything you tell your therapist during your treatment is completely confidential. However, in certain
situations we have a legal obligation to share information you have shared with third parties for the protection
of yourself or of others. VitaMinds work in conjunction with your GP and there may be times when we are
required to share details about your care with your GP
Safeguarding statement
VitaMinds Health Group is committed to safeguarding all vulnerable patients who access our services. We
work together with our partner organisations to safeguard adults at risk, vulnerable adults, children and young
people from all forms of abuse, neglect and exploitation. In line with the Care Quality Commission (CQC),
Fundamental Standards regulation 13: Safeguarding service users from abuse and improper treatment, people
who use services will be protected from abuse, or the potential risk of abuse, and their human rights respected
and upheld.
How do I contact you? When are you open?
Phone Number: 0330 094 5595 Monday to Friday 8am to 8pm
E-mail Address: llr.iapt.admin@vhg.co.uk Saturday 9.30am to 12.30pm
Website: www.vitahealthgroup.co.uk Sunday Closed
