York Pathways Project

Project Manager: Gemma Sanchez
Operations and Development Manager: Justine Pearce

Referrals accepted from:

North Yorkshire Police and other blue light services – including Tees Esk and Wear Valley (TEWV), North Yorkshire Ambulance and North Yorkshire Fire Service.

Our partners in running this service:

The service is delivered by Together for Mental Wellbeing in collaboration with North Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner, North Yorkshire Police and other critical health and social care partners.

Who is the service for?

York Pathways offers free, personalised, one-to-one support to adults (aged 18+) experiencing mental distress who repeatedly make contact with emergency services, or are at risk of entering the criminal justice system.

We work with individuals across all levels of mental health need and complexity. This includes working with people who have complex needs, such as substance misuse issues or a history of offending. A formal clinical diagnosis is not necessary.

We also offer case consultations to other services already working with individuals who need this kind of support.

How can we help?

Individuals will be offered an informal, holistic assessment during which we will take the time to understand the difficult things going on in their life and what is causing them the most distress. We will explore with each person which issues they want to tackle first, as well as their longer term goals and aspirations, and how we can work with them to set about addressing and achieving these.

Each person using the service will be allocated a Pathways worker, who will offer them both emotional and practical support to:

• Better understand and manage their emotions and any behaviours that may be contributing to their distress
• Develop coping skills through building confidence and awareness, learn how to problem solve, get their point of view across to others and seek help when they need it
• Strengthen and improve their relationships and build informal networks of support e.g. friendships, social activities and community groups
• Address any specific concerns that are causing them distress such as money troubles, housing worries, family and relationship problems, drug and alcohol issues
• Engage with other local services that can help now and in the longer term if needed. e.g. employment, housing, substance misuse services
• Map out a toolkit of personal resources, incorporating all the tools they have developed whilst using our service so that they can use them to cope in future if things get difficult again
• Reduce contact with police and emergency services or the chance of getting into trouble with the law due to not being able to get the help they need

How long can people use the service for?

Depending on an individual’s personal requirements and what they feel they need, we offer up to 4 hours support per week. We can work with people for any length of time, whether this is 2 weeks, 6 months or longer.

When and how can people access support?

The service is available Monday to Saturday, 9am-5pm. However, we can be flexible dependent on need.

Our workers can come and see people at their homes or in their local community. Otherwise, people can come to our offices if that’s easier for them.

People can access support face-to-face or over the phone, depending on what they prefer.

How can I make a referral?

If you would like to refer someone you are supporting, please get in touch. All referrals need to be sent to: samantha.durrant@northyorkshire.pnn.police.uk.