The first early intervention service in the UK was established in Birmingham in 1989. This was after a period of evidence growth from clinical and research development. Early intervention in psychosis is an established part of the service configuration of modern mental health services.

This is a long-term view of sustained interaction across research and practice, but in new emerging areas of knowledge such gradual, incremental development is often the only approach. CSIP's early intervention programme had a very clear remit to support localities to develop their early intervention services and meet nationally set targets.

Through its work, the early intervention programme has national and international links with the latest research evidence. Its social movement provides a quick mechanism for disseminating this evidence to practitioners. In many cases, this might be the end of the process, leaving open many challenges, including turning dissemination into implementation.

The early intervention programme has ensured deeper levels of interaction where colleagues in practice development are helped to assess the research evidence base and consider its implications for their practice.

The programme provides an arena in which debates between research and practice can take place, allowing for the development of an evidence base that is in tune with clinical practice and research.

Instances of these opportunities for debate and interaction have been the research-policy-practice seminars held by the programme, drawing together people from policy, clinical practice and research to debate future developments.