The Matrix: A Guide for delivering evidence based Psychological Therapies and Interventions in Scotland

The Matrix: A Guide for delivering evidence based Psychological Therapies and Interventions in Scotland

On 1 November, the Scottish Government held an event to launch several important national resources for psychological services in Scotland. This included the National Specification for the Delivery of Psychological Therapies and Interventions in Scotland and Public Health Scotland ‘Psychological Therapies and Interventions Waiting Time Standard definitions’.

Alongside and aligned with these was the formal launch of an updated joint publication between NES and Scottish Government, The Matrix: A Guide for delivering evidence based Psychological Therapies and Intentions in Scotland.

The Matrix sets out the best available evidence base for effective and efficient delivery of psychological therapies and interventions in Scotland and is a flexible, digital version of the highly regarded resource which was originally published by NES/SG in 2011 and was significantly updated in 2015.

We know this has been an essential tool used by services planners and practitioners to ensure the right people get the right therapies and interventions delivered by the right staff with the best available training and supervision and a recent survey highlighted its use.

Graph 1: Frequency of use of Matrix (n=371)

Graph 2: How would you rate the usefulness of the Matrix (1= very unhelpful and 5= very helpful). Average score is 3.45

The Matrix is intended to be an iterative process. The evidence reviews which are available and published reflect the consensus from national experts on what were the most urgent areas for update and we will continue to work with a wide range of stakeholders to complete the remaining evidence reviews that are set out in the resource.

Following the formal launch, NES Psychology will also be delivering a series of events over coming months specifically to highlight the new iteration of The Matrix and how it can usefully contribute to the delivery of evidence based psychological therapies and interventions in Scotland. Watch this space for updates and more info.

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