Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS)

For: common low-level wellbeing or socially based worries

What’s Advised: One to three contacts, ending by mutual agreement. This level of support is sufficient to normalise behaviour

Try: providing reassurance, information and advice or signpost on to universal Services:

Providers of Getting Advice – school nurse, youth worker, family support worker, advice line, self-help, Early Help Hub NHS Choices. Kooth.COM, Young Minds, Advice Lines

For: low level anxiety, Low mood (including hopelessness), low level, OCD, infrequent or low level of self-harming, emotional regulation difficulties (low level emotional distress, anger, conflict) consistent and behavioural problems both at home and school.

What’s Advised: goal-focused, evidence-based interventions with clear aims / goals or Screen for Neurodevelopmental difficulties (ADHD / ASC)

Try: Referrals on to: 42nd Street, Schools:- counsellors, SENCO / pastoral / learning support, wellbeing practitioners, Youth Services, Youth Justice Services,  Parenting Courses, Health Visitors, Paediatricians,  IAPT Children and Young Peoples Wellbeing Services , Young Carers, Young Peoples Substance Use Services or try a screen for Attention Deficit, Hyperactivity and Impulsivity, or developmental worries    

Providers of Getting Help: Social Care and Early Help Hubs for Parenting Interventions, Qualified School Counsellors, SENCO and Pastoral Services, 42nd Street, Youth Services, Youth Justice Workers, Early Help Hubs, Health Visitors, Paediatricians, IAPT services in School, CAMHS IAPT Services. Multiagency Neurodevelopmental Services (referral via Paediatricians, Speech and Languages Services or CAMHS) 

For: Children and Young People, who need a specialist CAMHS assessment or would benefit from extensive long-term treatment, which may include urgent, in-patient or extensive out-patient care

Also, for: Children and Young People who might need a community based specialist CAMHS assessment for complex social communication difficulties, Co-morbid ADHD, Trauma, PTSD, complex emotional dysregulation difficulties, Clinical Depression, major mental health disorders, Eating Disorders and or an urgent CAMHS mental state assessment.

Try: Referrals on to: – MFT CAMHS Community / Specialist / Targeted CAMHS (District, MSEDS, LD, Emerge, LAC) Social Care, Local Crisis and Urgent Care Services, 

Providers of Getting More Help: – MFT CAMHS, Inpatient J17 / GMAP, F-CAMHS, Specialist Schools, Therapeutic Residential Placements. J17 Day Hospital Provision, CETR Plans via Commissioners, Local Crisis and Urgent Care services, Secure / Specialist Child Protection Services.

For: Children and Young People unable to benefit from evidence-based treatment but remain a significant concern or risk, including those who routinely go into crisis or don’t make use of help

TRY: Calling for and attending Social Care Strategy Meetings, Child Protection Conferences, Edge of Care Meeting, School / College Safeguarding / Fitness to Learn Meetings, Police Silver and Gold Strategy Meetings, CAMHS Risk Assessment Management Meetings (RAMM), In-patient Admissions and Discharge Meetings.

Providers of Getting Risk Support: CAMHS, Social Care, Police, Ambulance and Fire Services, Accident and Emergency Schools, Collages, 3^rd / Voluntary Sector, Crisis Support Services (RRT / 42^nd St)  MHLT, Home Treatment, GP , Community Nurses, Safeguarding Practitioners, 111, Crisis Help Line Providers, Early Help Hub, Youth Workers. All Services involved with a child or young person need to be part of their getting risk support plan – it is a multiagency / multidisciplinary approach. We are all responsible for the safety of the children and young people we see, therefore all services / professionals involved need to be involved in the development of the cross agency risk support plan, in conjunction with the child / young person and their family/carers / support network.

MFT CAMHS have developed a children and young people’s (CYP) mental health support plan that outlines steps to support CYP through COVID-19, in which mental health needs are anticipated to increase significantly. We are therefore asking you to work collaboratively with us, your local communities and partners to support  children and young people’s (CYP) emotional wellbeing and mental health. Within this approach where possible we encourage everyone to support young people needs and protect the NHS CAMHS to focus on complex needs within our limited resources.

We recognise as our partners you find yourselves operating in an increasingly challenging environment. The partnerships we have created together for CYP, with local authorities, the third sector and other parts of the health system are central to successful delivery of this plan and need to be maintained and built on. We must make sure that over the next few months we work together to  manage the expected surge in mental health needs.

• Support Plan for Professionals
• Parent or Carer Support Plan