Lighthouse accepts referrals from a wide range of professionals. We’ve put together this information to ensure that we can meet your client’s needs please so please review the criteria below before filling out the referral form.
We recommend that professionals speak with the agency to check suitability before making a referral and must have sought permission from their client.
All of our services with the exception of our suicide bereavement support service, are for those individuals residing in BT13, 14, 15, 36 only.
Our suicide bereavement support service is solely focussed on supporting individuals with suicidal grief.
Our counselling service is short term, typically between 6 - 12 sessions.
Our crisis service works to reduce distress and suicidal risk and make referrals to appropriate services.
Our art therapy service is a way of helping people express how they feel through a creative process, if they prefer to communicate their emotions this way, or if talking therapies have not been beneficial in the past.
Referrals for these services should be appropriate for Step1 or Step2 of the Stepped Care Model.
We are unable to work with:
- Clients who are at immediate or imminent risk of suicide
- Personality disorder
- Psychosis or schizophrenia
- Severe and/or recurrent depression/anxiety disorders
- Obsessive compulsive disorder
- Severe panic disorder
- Complex trauma
- Addiction
| Issue | Inclusion | Exclusion | Guidance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Source of referral to agency | Primary and Secondary Care Mental Health Professionals GPs, Social Workers Youth Workers, Secondary School, College/FE Voluntary/Community Groups | GPs referring clients for counselling service. GPs referring clients for counselling should do so via the Mental Health Wellbeing HUB.
| GPs referring clients for counselling should do so via the Mental Health Wellbeing HUB. |
| Suicide | Client has suicidal thoughts or a history of the same OR Client is bereaved by suicide OR Further escalation in distress may put client at risk of suicide | Client is at immediate or imminent risk of suicide (requires 'stepped up'). | The client should not be at imminent risk of suicide. The client should be sufficiently stabilised/medication reviewed/adjusted as required in consultation with prescriber. A safety plan should bein place with client (and family/NOK if necessary) tohelp guard against further escalation of risk.
|
| Age | Minimum age for services are 12+ with the exclusion fo Alternative Therapies which is 18+. 12- 18 year olds must be accompanied by an adult to services. | Clients aged under 12. | |
| Assessment Following | The referral agent has spoken with the client about Lighthouse’s services and has agreed to the referral being made. AND The referral agency has conducted an assessment of the client’s needs, and a risk assessment. AND The referral agency states which service(s) they are referring the client to Lighthouse for. | The client has no GP AND/OR no fixed abode. The client has no support person who can be named on the referral form. The agency has made a referral to another agency for the same service. | The client’s assessment should be RECENT (within 1 month of referral). If a telephone assessment has been conducted this should be indicated on the referral form. |
| Trust follow-up | Following assessment the client does not require longer term follow-up by Trust Mental Health Services. Some patients may require a brief period of crisis management within the Trust prior to the referral, but are otherwise suitable for a STEP DOWN to this service and meet the other criteria. | Requires long-term follow-up by the Trust Mental Health Services | This group is not excluded from Lighthouse’s services, GIVEN THAT our services complement those which are being offered by Trust Mental Health Services. |
| Alcohol/Drug misuse issues | No issues OR The client has a relationship with drugs/alcohol, however, they are not alcohol or drug dependant. | The client is alcohol or drug dependant.
The client requires detoxification services at the time of assessment. | If a client’s drug or alcohol use has current substantial impact on their mental health they should be referred to an alcohol/drugs or addiction service.
Please refer to: https://drugsandalcoholni.info/ |
| Sexual Abuse | No issues OR The client may have been victim of sexual abuse or sexual assault, which may be a factor in their distress, however this is not the core issue. | The client is seeking counselling to address issues specific to being victim to sexual abuse or sexual assault.
In this case the referrer should signpost the client to NEXUS or ROWAN Centre. | See VSS Historical Abuse Services here: https://www.victimsservice.org/historical-institutional-abuse-hia/ |
| Troubles Related Trauma | No Issues OR The client may have been victim or troubles related trauma, which may be a factor in their distress, however this is not the core issue. | The client is seeking counselling to address issues specific to being victim of troubles related trauma. | See VSS services here: https://www.victimsservice.org/types-of-support/ |
| Psychiatric diagnosis | No Issues | The client has: Personality disorder, psychosis or schizophrenia. Severe and/or recurrent depression/anxiety disorders Obsessive compulsive disorder Severe panic disorder Complex trauma Or where previous similar treatments have not been successful. | Interventions appropriate for Step 1 or Step 2 of Stepped Care Model.
Minimal/mild or moderate depression/anxiety/distress. |
| Geographic Location | For all services with the exclusion of family support, clients must live in BT 13, 14, 15, 36. | Clients that live outside of BT13, 14, 15, 36, except for those clients seeking family support service. | Our services are focussed on clients in the North Belfast area, BT13, BT14, BT15, BT36 postcode areas. |
| Recent discharge from Counselling | If you are referring for counselling: The client has not had counselling within the last 6 months. | The client has had counselling within the last 6 months and is being referred for more of the same. |
If your client does not meet our Service Criteria, please make a referral to another suitable agency. Information on other agencies can be found via our directory of services - https://lighthousecharity.com/directory-of-services-to-help-improve-mental-health-and-wellbeing