A THERAPY service in County Durham has been accredited by the Royal College of Psychiatrists for high standards of patient care.

Talking Changes, which runs in partnership with Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust, has been recognised for improving access to mental health services for underrepresented groups and offering a range of referral options.

Over a 12-month period, the service for those experiencing common mental health issues in Durham and Darlington, underwent a rigorous assessment involving staff, service users and a team of experts from the Centre for Quality Improvement.

Joanne Kendall, Talking Changes service manager, said: “Providing high-quality services that exceed the expectations of the people we support is extremely important to our team and we work hard to ensure that all patients receive high standards.

“Throughout the accreditation process, we have reviewed a lot to ensure that patients receive a streamlined and positive experience with us and are delighted this has been reflected in the accreditation report where we have achieved 100 per cent of the CCQI’s type one standards.

“Receiving accreditation means that patients can be assured that they are receiving treatment from highly-trained staff who work in a service that meets the very high standards required by the Royal College of Psychiatrists.”