Trust’s pioneering partnership with Citizens Advice is praised for offering new support to patients
A ground-breaking partnership between Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust and Citizens Advice has been praised.
Two Citizens Advice caseworkers are now based at the Trust’s main mental health hospitals in Cambridge and Peterborough enabling them to give direct help and support to inpatients.
The move has been praised by Andy Bell, Chief Executive of the Centre for Mental Health, who learned about the initiative when he recently met with CPFT CEO Steve Grange and Trust and Citizens Advice staff.
After the Trust approached the Citizens Advice branches for Peterborough and Cambridge and District, caseworkers Morice Mendoza and Sarah Waterhouse began working at Fulbourn Hospital, Cambridge, and the Cavell Centre, Peterborough, respectively in May.
Morice and Sarah help patients with a range of issues including benefits, housing, employment and debt support.
Clinical Innovation project manager Lorna Hamblin said: “Some people with mental health conditions can struggle to get the support they need, but having Morice at Fulbourn and Sarah at the Cavell Centre means patients can access help before they are discharged.
“Our clinicians treat and support patients towards their recovery, but issues can go so much further than just medical. For some of our patients, dealing with problems with debt or housing can have a huge impact on their mental wellbeing. Having Morice and Sarah to advise them before they leave our care is already proving beneficial.”
After the Trust’s public health consultant Kathryn Faulkner had the original idea for the initiative, she took it to CPFT’s innovation team which was awarded an initial two years of funding from the NHS Insites programme which supports pioneering health programmes.
Dr Caroline Meiser-Stedman, Interim Chief Medical Officer and senior responsible officer for the project, said: “The feedback patients have given us has been hugely encouraging and the same is true of our staff. Previously they have may have tried to support with some of these issues, but they really require the expert help of our Citizens Advice colleagues.”
Sarah (pictured right), who like Morice (right, below) is based at the Trust for two 
days a week, said: “Previously, I might have seen people at the Citizens Advice office in Peterborough and Morice would have seen them where he works in Cambridge, but being based within the hospitals means we can see people before they leave the care of the inpatient wards.
“It’s working really well so far and already we’ve been able to help more than 60 patients in the three months we’ve been working at the Trust.”
During his visit to CPFT recently, Andy Bell welcomed the move, saying: "It was a pleasure to meet Morice at Fulbourn Hospital and see the difference that having Citizens Advice on site is already having after just a few months.
“We believe that every mental health service should have holistic welfare advice embedded within it.
“Advice workers can help people with money, housing and a wide range of issues that affect their mental health. I hope that this essential support continues for the long term, and that it will become the norm across the country in the next few years."
CPFT provides community physical health services for older people and adults with long-term conditions, mental health services, children’s community services, social care and learning disability services.
The Trust is also renowned for its research and development work and, in June 2025, was awarded Teaching Partner status by the University of Cambridge.
Main picture (left to right): Richard Curtis (Cambridge and District Citizens Advice); Kathryn Faulkner; Lorna Hamblin; Morice Mendoza; Lorna Shaw (CPFT); Andy Bell; and Steve Grange.
ENDS
For more information contact:
Andy Burrows, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust
Deputy Head of Communications
E communications@cpft.nhs.uk