Trust’s specialist mental health team extends support for those struggling with addiction issues
A specialist team at Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust has extended the support it is offering to those struggling with mental health and alcohol and drug dependency issues.
The Dual Diagnosis Outreach Team treats people whose addictions are causing them serious mental ill-health but whose lifestyles mean they are often unable to access the usual support.
Recognising that the people they aim to help may be reluctant or unable to come forward, the team - made up of mental health practitioners and support staff - is now attending regular community drop-in sessions.
The team attends sessions at the Garden House in Peterborough, which provides advice to rough sleepers and is operated by Light Project Peterborough, and Outside Links, which offers help and advice to men and women who have resided at HMP Peterborough, as well as the wider community who may be vulnerable or are experiencing homelessness.
Clinical lead Pretty Wilkinson, pictured with fellow clinical lead Zoe Rix and mental health practitioner Pamela Baines, said: “Traditionally, people will have accessed the support of our team after a referral from their GP or social care professional working with them.
“But it’s widely recognised that those with the most complex needs won’t choose to seek help in that way. So instead, we are now attending drop-in sessions organised by other support agencies and working in direct partnership with the likes of Aspire Recovery Service – operated by Change Grow Live – which offers people advice on alcohol and drug use. This has meant we can offer immediate help and advice to those who require mental health support.”
Megan Wreford, Senior Project Worker at Light Project Peterborough, said “LPP wouldn’t be able to provide the right level of mental wellbeing support to our Garden House guests without partners such as the Dual Diagnosis Outreach team. We are very grateful to them as well as all the other partner agencies we work with.”
Mandy Fairbrother, Community Liaison and Outside Links Manager, said: "DDOT is one of the vital agencies that attend Outside Links weekly, providing invaluable support to the vulnerable clients who use our services and the team's work is greatly appreciated."
Members of the Dual Diagnosis Team, who are based in Bridge Street, Peterborough, have found that by regularly attending the drop-in sessions they have built new levels of trust in the people they are aiming to support.
Pretty added: “We’ve made a deliberate decision to demonstrate to clients that we can support them with their mental health when they are facing really testing challenges. We want to assure them that help is available and to give them hope they can overcome the issues they have in their lives.”
CPFT provides community physical health services for older people and adults with long term conditions, mental health services, children community services in Peterborough and learning disability services. The Trust is also renowned for its research and development work and in June 2025, CPFT was awarded Teaching Partner status by the University of Cambridge.
ENDS
For more information contact:
Andy Burrows, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust
Deputy Head of Communications
E communications@cpft.nhs.uk