The Thrive Welcome team supports people with their mental health. The team is made up of:
- Community mental health nurses
- Occupational therapists
- Social workers
- Support practitioners
- Peer recovery workers.
The Thrive team is part of the Edinburgh HSCP and works jointly with NHS Lothian, the City of Edinburgh Council and third sector organisations. There are four teams, based in each of the city localities (NW/NE/SW/SE).
The team works collaboratively with the patient, using a solution-focused approach to help address the impacts of the mental health difficulty the person is experiencing. Thrive is a values-based service and does not focus on diagnosis but on its ability to support and improve someone’s quality of life and / or function.
The Thrive Welcome team is open to anyone who is struggling with their mental health and supports people who:
- Are aged over 18
- Live in Edinburgh & are registered with an Edinburgh GP practice.
We cannot support people registered with The Access Place.
Reasons for attending Thrive Welcome teams include:
- Feeling emotionally unstable
- Low confidence
- Socially isolated
- Depression
- Self-harm/ suicidal thoughts (without intent or immediate risk of harm)
- Anxiety.
Within the work undertaken the team may identify and work on factors contributing to or arising from the mental health difficulty such as:
- Work issues
- Relationship issues
- Safety planning
- Distress tolerance
- Building routines
- Confidence building.
These lists are not exhaustive, and the coordinator will welcome a conversation with the referrer. Once accepted for Thrive an Initial conversation (assessment) will be arranged: this can be in person, on the phone or using near me online.
After the initial conversation there are usually 3 potential outcomes – taken on for a piece of work, referred into secondary care or linked into 3rd sector supports.
How long does support from the Welcome Team last?
The Welcome Team offers short-term periods of support, on average 6-8 sessions, but once someone has worked with the service, they can self-refer for further contact without need for referral via the GP.
LS & CM 15/12/25
Who to refer
Please see above – but please contact the team if you are not sure about appropriateness.
Who not to refer:
Thrive is NOT SUITABLE for those:
- Experiencing memory or cognitive impairment / delirium.
- Requiring assessment or treatment from a CMHT e.g. active psychosis, severe and enduring mental health challenges
- Needing referral for Psychiatry and Psychology: those should continue though SCI Gateway and Thrive does not offer a route for quicker access / escalation.
- In crisis or emergency situations needing emergency input – please contact MHAS
- Needing an ADHD / ASD assessment – patients should continue to be referred through SCI Gateway for outpatient assessment and will not be seen sooner by attending Thrive.
- With a learning disability
- Under the influence of drugs or alcohol or where this is the primary concern – please see Alcohol and Drug Use – RefHelp.
How to refer:
Self-referral
The Thrive team prefers that people attend an open access clinic in their area as this shows readiness to engage and work on goals. For an up-to-date list of open access clinics please see www.ithriveedinburgh.org.uk/thrive-welcome-teams.
We do ask for those requiring an interpreter that a referral is made for a planned appointment please as these often take more time than is allocated at open access.
GP referral:
- for those unable to attend an open access – either due to anxiety about the process, or because the opening times are not suitable for them.
- for those requiring an interpreter.
How to refer
- GP referral – via SCI Gateway to the locality mental health team – and please mark for the attention of Thrive. (All locality referrals are assessed at the triage meeting and allocated to appropriate team – CMHT, Thrive, outpatients, psychology).
- Self-referral – please see: www.ithriveedinburgh.org.uk/thrive-welcome-teams.
Getting in touch:
North West Thrive team 0131 315 2121 based at Craigroyston
North East Thrive team 0131 537 4530 based at Inchkeith House
South West Thrive team 0131 537 8673 based at Cambridge street house/ Westerhailes healthy living centre
South East Thrive team 0131 374 2204 based at Ballenden House
