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2.7 Consultation Services Available at Local CAMHS

This is a new chapter for April 2010


Contents

  1. Introduction
  2. ARTs - Jointly Commissioned Forensic Mental Health Service working particularly with YOTs & CSC
  3. Community-based CAMHS Team
  4. Family Support Panel - Chaired by Commissioner Warwick Tomsett
  5. Generic CAMHS Teams
  6. LYPS (Working specifically with the more serious end of Mental Health problems in older age young people) Introduction
  7. NDT (Neuro-developmental Team within CAMHS for Children with severe learning disabilities or autism)
  8. PAS (Post Adoption Support) Service
  9. Reflective Practice Groups
  10. Symbol (CAMHS team for CLA)


1. Introduction

Consultation may not be the best way to describe the range of services which CAMHS provide or are collaboratively engaged in with Children’s Social Care colleagues. Some services are built into ‘good practice’ as part of the usual procedures for working together. 


2. ARTs - Jointly Commissioned Forensic Mental Health Service working particularly with YOTs & CSC

  • Formal consultations are available to professionals from other agencies on Tuesday afternoons, particularly for case discussions about young people with sexually inappropriate behaviour. The multi-disciplinary team (Psychiatry, Psychology, specialist SW & Child Mental Health Practitioners (CMHPs)) also provides assessments and co-work, including for court-work
  • DATs Worker/Clinical Nurse Specialist provides specialist advice and co-work for teenagers who are alcohol & substance misusers
  • A specially funded Diversion Worker works with the Police to prevent
  • Prosecutions and divert young people from crime & prosecution. He is a member of the YISP
  • The Clinical Psychologist of ARTs sits on the second YISP
  • The Team Manager of ARTs sits on the Multi-Agency Risk Panel, every 4th Friday


3. Community-based CAMHS Team

  • The Team Manager & CMHPs of two Community-based CAMHS teams provide dedicated sessions in some GP Surgeries and Schools where a key aspect of the work is providing consultations to other professionals, frequently about safeguarding & mental health issues


4. Family Support Panel - Chaired by Commissioner Warwick Tomsett

  • Borough Manager & Family Therapist of CAMHS is a member of this Panel, which is attended by the Social Work Co-ordinator for CAMHS when he is not available


5. Generic CAMHS Teams

  • Senior Family Therapist/Senior Social Worker provides CAMHS supervision & consultation for cases where mental health risk and child protection risk need differentiating. This worker was originally appointed for the CIN (and mental health) Project which is presently being developed following the ending of phase one last year, to promote more intensive outreach work for families on the edge of social exclusion/Care
  • Social Work Co-ordinator for CAMHS & Senior Family Therapist are hoping to continue developing Reflective Practice Groups, co-working with Independent Reviewing Officers to facilitate the group-work. In the latest group safeguarding issues were a significant focus of discussions
  • Team Managers of the 2 Multi-disciplinary (clinical) teams are available to discuss referrals from SWs via the telephone (020 7138 1250) and to focus on safeguarding & mental health thresholds
  • One of the Consultant Psychiatrists, a specialist SW and a CMHP run a weekly specialist clinic for CSA. They offer specific case consultations as part of their session, often starting work with SW referrers with a case consultation which seeks consultation from the key SW as well as providing specialist guidance/recommendations
  • Another DATs funded worker provides specialist assessment, treatment and consultation about children of parents who are alcohol and/or substance misusers. She also offers co-work for SWs and other professionals and regularly attends child protection conferences to provide feedback but also consultation


6. LYPS (Working specifically with the more serious end of Mental Health problems in older age young people) Introduction

  • Early Intervention Service worker is seconded by AMHS to work with vulnerable teenagers with serious mental health problems. She is working the inter-face of mental health & social care, offering consultations as part of that role
  • LYPS as a multi-disciplinary team welcomes referrals for consultations
  • The ‘Protocol for S17/S117 Young People’ addresses the needs of young people on discharge from hospital. The Team Manager of LYPS & a named Team Manager from CSC have a formal liaison arrangement about these young people, with formal procedures for management of their needs
  • A Mental Health Worker for Young Refugees with mental health needs is available for consultation & co-work and has specialist experience of the legal systems and immigration services involved


7. NDT (Neuro-developmental Team within CAMHS for Children with severe learning disabilities or autism)

  • Formal liaison meetings are scheduled between the NDT & Children with Disability (Social Care) Team, with named workers in each team maintaining this liaison group. Recently they organised a seminar for both teams titled “Working with resilience and risk” addressing both child protection & mental health risk factors


8. PAS (Post Adoption Support) Service

  • A Social Worker is seconded half-time by the PAS team of CSC to work collaboratively with CAMHS but also to provide two-way consultations
  • This secondment facilitates fast-tracking of referrals for multi-disciplinary specialist input when necessary
  • The weekly Theraplay Clinic organised by CAMHS provides consultations for SWs and families where attachment difficulties are evident. Many of the families seen involve CIN


9. Reflective Practice Groups

  • The Social Work Co-ordinator of CAMHS and Senior Family Therapist co-facilitate some of these groups for SWs (see information above)


10. Symbol (CAMHS team for CLA)

  • This jointly commissioned multi-disciplinary team has provided Reflective Practice Groups for the AFS and these are being renegotiated at present
  • Consultation is provided to SWs generally by Symbol. Specifically consultations are provided to all SW referrers at the start of CAMHS co-work and case planning. The two-way consultations (SW to CAMHS attending all Symbol team meetings)

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