Primary mental health brief intervention, counselling and psychology services (referral)

Any Pinnacle practice in Waikato can refer for this service.  

Youth can be referred by school counsellors and school based nurses.

The service offers a Package of Care which is four sessions over a period of 12-weeks for both counselling and psychology.   

An extension of two counselling sessions may be approved in some cases. This extension does not apply to psychology. 

There is a stand down period of six months before another referral can be accepted. 

Target population:

• Priority is given to Pacific, Māori, youth and low income (Community Services Card holders). 
• Adults 20 years and over living in Te Whatu Ora Waikato area and enrolled with a Waikato Pinnacle practice AND have a Community Services Card.
• Youth aged 12 to 19 years old irrespective of practice enrolment. 

Please provide the 16 digit Community Services Card number and expiry date.

Non-target population:

• Adults (20-30 years) living in Te Whatu Ora Waikato area and enrolled with a Waikato Pinnacle practice.  

• Adults (20 years +) who are not enrolled with a Waikato Pinnacle practice.  
• Adults (31 years +) who are enrolled with a Waikato Pinnacle practice.
• Patients who are currently receiving secondary mental health services. 
• Patients with moderate to severe mental health issues. 
• Patients who require crisis intervention. 
• Patients who are currently receiving support from ACC.

For the practice - once the referral has been made. 

For the contracted service – the provider offers a Package of Care which is four sessions over a period of 12 weeks. 

An extension of two counselling sessions may be approved in some cases prior to discharge. 

Practices are required to submit an eReferral requesting a package of care for their patient. These referrals are clinically triaged then the sessions are provided by third party counsellors and psychologists. 

Patients or practices cannot refer directly to the third-party providers, the referral needs to be via the Pinnacle Primary Mental Health service to ensure the patient receives the funded service. 

Practices are required to provide sufficiently detailed consultation notes to determine appropriate use of funding.  

It has been recommended that in addition to a good assessment and history, the full range of appropriate observations should be documented. It is important to state the time of consultations and interactions with the patient.  

Please provide K10 scores and any relevant priority criteria information such as Māori, Pacific, youth or low income. 

The service is funded by Te Whatu Ora.