Referrals

Referral Criteria

People who are referred to Stepping Stones should reside within West Dunbartonshire, be at least 16 years of age and experience common mental health problems, such as, depression, anxiety or stress. Detailed information about our services is contained on our website. Please note that all assessment appointments following referral are offered by telephone. 

Making a Self Referral

Our referral hotline is open between 10am and 2pm Monday to Friday by phoning 01419412929 – option 1. If you call between the hours of 10am and 2pm your call will be taken by our administration staff where you can give your reasons for referring to Stepping Stones. Outside of these times, you can leave your details on voicemail and we will call you back within one working day of receipt of your message. 

Referrals can also be made by sending an email to referral@stepstones.org.uk. Please include your name and phone number when emailing us. Your support following the telephone assessment can be offered by face to face, telephone, video or group across West Dunbartonshire.

Support Agency Referrals

The WellBeing Nurse Service, Social Work Services, Children and Adolescent Mental Health Services, Primary Care, Older Adults and Community Mental Health Teams can refer their patients using the agency referral form. The agency referral form is available by contacting our administration team on referral@stepstones.org.uk. 

All other agencies should advise their patients/service users/clients to self refer to Stepping Stones.

Assessment

Once a referral has been made, a telephone assessment appointment with a Stepping Stones’ assessor will be organised at a suitable time. Our waiting times for appointment based assessments is about 4-6 weeks. Each telephone assessment should take approximately 30 minutes.

During the telephone call, the referred person will discuss their reason for referral with the assessor and complete several short forms. If Stepping Stones can offer a support service, we will discuss the options available. If we feel that another service is better placed to support the referred person, we will let them know and signpost them, with their consent and permission, to the most appropriate service that we feel is best placed to support them.

We will attempt to contact the referred person once by phone from the 01419412929 number. If we are unable to contact them, the assessors will text, or email them asking them to contact us within seven days. If no contact is made by them within the seven day timescale, the referral will be closed. Re-referrals can be made at any time by following the Self-Referral guidance further up the page.

Cancellations and non-attendance at Assessments:

If the person referring cancels their appointment they may have to wait a bit longer for a telephone assessment. If they do not attend their assessment without notifying us of their non attendance, after two weeks their referral will be closed.

Home Visits

We are unable to offer home visits. If you feel a home visit is required, contact our office and one of our support staff will be able to advise you what to do.