Psychosocial Support
Psychosocial support incorporates actions that address the psychological and social factors that can impact a person’s wellbeing, both in a preventative and curative way.
People impacted by a cancer diagnosis, including friends, family and carers can experience psychosocial distress and if not addressed appropriately, this may have wider implications for example decreased quality of life, negative effect on treatment outcomes and disengagement with health and social care.
Our aim is to provide equitable, accessible and high quality psychosocial support to people living with cancer.
- When and where people require it
- At the appropriate level (NICE guidance levels 1-4)
- Delivered by a workforce with appropriate knowledge, skills and confidence
- To identify the gaps in the provision across Devon and Cornwall of:
❖ Psychological services.
❖ Clinical supervision for those healthcare and support workers who screen and assess for psychological need.
❖ Education for those healthcare and support workers. - Enable sharing of good practice across organisations in the Peninsula.
- Identify assessment tools used to understand people’s psychological needs.
- Provide an understanding of current commissioning arrangements for the provision of psychological care to people impacted by a cancer diagnosis.
- Co-design (healthcare, support workers and patients) a Service Specification enabling the Peninsula Cancer Alliance and Macmillan to make
recommendations that ensure the provision of psychological care for people impacted by cancer is optimal.
