Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS)

CAMHS is commissioned to provide services for all children and young people (CYP) with mental health difficulties or a moderate or severe learning disability where mental health symptoms or complex presentation requires CAMHS involvement. Our service works with people up to age 18 (19 for those with LD and children in care). All young people accepted by CAMHS are supported by a range of professionals which may include  Psychiatrists, Mental Health and Learning Disability nurses, Family Therapists, Psychotherapy, Arts Therapists, CBT Therapists, Psychology and Primary Mental Health Workers. Therapy may be provided on an individual basis or through group work. Each person will have different needs and this is reflected in the therapy and regularity of contact. We recognise that at times things may prove particularly difficult or deteriorate and therefore additional service provision for those young people in crisis is provided as follows. Urgent Referrals - All areas in Hampshire currently operate a rota of clinicians available to respond to emergency referrals in working hours, which includes assessments at the local hospitals for those Young people who may have self-harmed. Intensive support - i2i is an additional service, which offers young people with severe and complex mental health needs who are at significant risk of tier 4 in-patient psychiatric placement or who require this level of support as part of their care/discharge plan.

Our Referrals will be accepted from all health, education and children’s services professionals and from young people/families themselves. This is via a single point of access, which can be accessed via telephone or using an electronic referral form which can be found on the Hampshire CAMHS website. [email - hantsCAMHSSPA@spft.nhs.uk] Consultation line - Call 0300 304 0050. The CAMHS service is provided by the NHS and therefore is provided at no charge to families. Waiting times do vary across the County due to the significant demands that teams experience. All referrals are seen based on priority which includes significant risk of harm or death to the young person, and therefore there may be times when young people may be waiting longer than we would hope for an appointment.

Our Referrals will be accepted from all health, education and children’s services professionals and from young people/families themselves. This is via a single point of access, which can be accessed via telephone or using an electronic referral form which can be found on the Hampshire CAMHS website. [email - hantsCAMHSSPA@spft.nhs.uk] Consultation line - Call 0300 304 0050. The CAMHS service is provided by the NHS and therefore is provided at no charge to families. Waiting times do vary across the County due to the significant demands that teams experience. All referrals are seen based on priority which includes significant risk of harm or death to the young person, and therefore there may be times when young people may be waiting longer than we would hope for an appointment.

CAMHS is commissioned to provide mental health treatment and intervention for CYP and their families across Hampshire, excluding the unitary authority areas of Portsmouth and Southampton. CYP who reside here but are under the care of a local authority other than HCC remain the responsibility of the placing authority. CAMHS is not commissioned locally to provide on-going intervention to these young people but we do provide services as agreed and funded by the placing authority as per the agreed care and treatment plan. The service provision as outlined in question one is available consistently across the County. Hampshire CAMHS is divided into 3 localities, North, South and West and further divided into 8 teams that are based within local areas, as below: 

Havant CAMHS, Oak Park Children's Services, 8 Lavant Drive, Havant, Hampshire, PO9 2AW, Tel: 0300 304 0099

Fareham CAMHS, Osborn Centre, Osborn Road, Fareham, Hampshire, PO16 7ES, Tel: 0300 304 0447

Winchester CAMHS, Avalon House, Winchester, Hampshire, SO23 0HU, Tel: 0300 304 0070

Eastleigh CAMHS, The Bridge Centre, 2C Newtown Road, Eastleigh, Hampshire, SO50 9DB, Tel: 0300 304 0625

New Forest CAMHS, Ashurst Child and Family Centre, Lyndhurst Road, Southampton, Hampshire, SO40 7AR, Tel: 02380 743000

Andover CAMHS, Advertiser House, 24-32 London Street, Andover, Hampshire, SP10 2PE, Tel: 0300 304 0070

Basingstoke CAMHS, Brambly's, Brambly's Drive, Basingstoke, Hampshire, RG21 8UN, Tel: 0300 304 0800

Aldershot CAMHS, Aldershot Centre for Health, Hospital Hill, Aldershot, Hampshire, GU11 1AY, Tel: 01252 335600

Staff within the single point of access are qualified and experienced clinicians who will read and consider the referrals to check if it meets the criteria for the service that we are commissioned to provide. It can be the case that there is not enough information provided for CAMHS to understand or agree to accept the referral, and where appropriate the clinician may seek further information by contacting the referrer to discuss. Each day we review all referrals marked as urgent to assess if contact with the young person is needed within 24 hours or less. If CAMHS do not accept the referral we will make suggestions of who may be more appropriate to help and with consent can share your referral directly with another provider to avoid delay. We will of course explain why CAMHS won’t be meeting with the young person who has been referred. If families don’t agree with the decision made by CAMHS they can of course speak to the Single Point of Access to gather more information and clarity about the outcome. The outcome decision of the referral will be sent to the referrer and young person and family by letter.

The teams complete a number of outcome measures with young people who give regular feedback as to their experiences and progress through therapy. There are a number of ways that teams communicate with and provide information to families, via the trust website, noticeboards, resource folders in waiting areas, relevant leaflets and information sheets, copies of letters and reports. For those whose first language is not English translations of written information or translators for clinical work can be provided. The team has the option of Makaton to communicate with those young people who have a learning disability. Participation with young people, parents and carers supports all aspects of service improvement.

'''Wheelchair accessible?''' Yes the buildings are fully wheelchair accessible for clinical areas. '''Have there been improvements in the auditory and visual environment?''' Yes, the waiting rooms have been decorated and sensory equipment such as sensory items and bubble tubes and toys to make the environment more suitable for our service users. '''Are there disabled changing and toilet facilities?''' Yes '''Do you have a changing places facility?''' Yes '''What support is there for a child with additional needs in general areas e.g. waiting rooms?''' – None '''How will my child or young person be able to access all of the activities of the service and how will you assist him or her to do so?''' Clinics are all on one level and accessible. '''If the service is delivered at the person’s home or in the community please state.''' We do deliver services in other settings such as schools and complete home visits. All young people have access to all the facilities of the service. '''How do signs within your building help users who can’t read or see well?''' There are no signs that support this issue. '''How do the care plans you create involve users with learning disabilities?''' All clients and where appropriate their parent/carer are involved in the planning of their care. There are specialist LD nurses to work with young people or provide consultation with colleagues. '''Can you adapt your approaches for someone with autism who cannot manage a change in routine or staffing?''' Yes although limited by staff capacity.

All qualified staff will have completed appropriate core training and be registered with the appropriate recognised professional body, and registrations are checked and monitored annually. All new staff are expected to attend a Trust induction and attend mandatory training updates as required. Staff are encouraged and supported to attend further training courses, conferences and events to ensure that their skills are maintained and updated in line with evidence based practice. A number of staff across the county have additional specialist training and are able to be used as a resource to other teams or act in a consultation and advisory role. CAMHS work alongside many other pertinent services including Schools, GPs paediatricians, social services, Childrens homes etc Particular teams will also have working relationships with other tier 1 and 2 services that are in their particular area.

All staff that work within CAMHS will have undergone pre-employment checks at appointment, including an enhanced check via the Vetting and Barring Service, these are repeated on a 3 yearly basis. Both clinical supervision and line management support is provided on a monthly basis to all staff, in order to ensure competent and safe practice. All staff are required to be registered with their relevant professional body which also details a number of training and competence requirements to ensure continued registration. The services are subject to Inspections from the Care Quality Commission. There are policies and processes in place to ensure that all aspects of risk, health and safety are managed appropriately, and for reporting concerns.

The single point of access provides a consultation line on a daily basis if a referrer, or family wishes to discuss a particular young person that they are concerned about or are considering referring. Consultation line - Call 0300 304 0050 GPs and Schools are also familiar with the role of CAMHS with young people’s psychological and emotional wellbeing, and would be in a good position to advise. The referral criteria may also be found on the trust and local authority website, or could be provided by contacting your local CAMHS team. There are also a number of other services and organizations within schools, GP practices and your locality that can provide support and advice to families and young people.