Purpose

The Cheshire and Merseyside Psychosocial Toolkit has been developed collaboratively with clinicians, specialist services, and individuals affected by cancer.  

It aims to promote existing psychosocial support services and referral pathways, while providing a practical and accessible resource for professionals across Cheshire and Merseyside. This ensures that individuals affected by cancer are able to access the right support, at the right time. 

Why this toolkit matters

Cancer touches thousands of lives across Cheshire and Merseyside.

With over 17,000 new cases each year and survival rates rising, more than 111,000 people are living with and beyond cancer.

But the psychological and social impact remains profound, especially in deprived areas where support is harder to reach. 

Cheshire and Merseyside Cancer Alliance Data  
111,000 Number of people living with cancer
23% Living in the most deprived quintile (IMD1) (2019)
56.0% People diagnosed with cancer that survive for fire years or more (2016-2020)
46.8% People diagnosed with cancer that survive for ten years or more (2011-2020)

Toolkit structure and features

The toolkit is structured into two complementary resources, reflecting the breadth of psychosocial support needs across the cancer pathway. 

Psychological Support Needs 

This resource focuses on psychological wellbeing and includes guidance and support relating to: 

  • Mental health support 
  • Emotional support 
  • Identity  
  • Safety  
  • Trauma  
  • Relationships
Social Support Needs 

This resource addresses wider social and practical factors that impact on wellbeing, including: 

  • Financial support 
  • Activities of daily living 
  • Community connection and social inclusion 
  • Spirituality  
  • Health inequalities and access to support 

The Thrive Framework

The THRIVE Framework offers a structured, person-centred approach to mental health and wellbeing, adapted to support adults living with and beyond cancer.​

This Includes:​

Thriving: Building resilience through community resources and education​

Getting Advice: Accessible information and signposting​

Getting Help: Psychological interventions like counselling or guided self-help​

Getting More Help: Specialist therapies (e.g., CBT, clinical psychology)​

Getting Risk Support: Managing complex needs​

This needs-led model ensures individuals receive the right level of support for their situation.​

Thrive model.png

Levels of Support Model

The Level of Support Model complements THRIVE by offering a tiered approach that adjusts the intensity of support according to individual need.

Each level of support includes: ​

  • Level 1: Getting Advice – information provision, peer groups, and self-management tools.​

  • Level 2: Getting Help – brief interventions, such as guided self-help or telephone-based support.​

  • Level 3: Getting More Help – structured psychological therapies or specialist mental health support.

  • Level 4: Getting Risk Support – specialist mental health support for safety needs.​

Stepped Care Model_new.png

This toolkit is intended as a professional resource and should only be used within the scope of appropriate competencies. It does not replace clinical judgement or local organisational guidelines. Users are responsible for ensuring they refer to the most current version. CMCA and Cancer Academy accept no liability for decisions or outcomes arising from its use. External links are provided for convenience; responsibility for their content remains with the original source.