BEH - Assessment, services and interventions

Child and adolescent mental health services (which professionals may know as CAMHS), work with children and young people up to their 18th birthday. They work with child and young people who are experiencing concerns around violent or angry behaviour, depression, severe attachment, behavioural and emotional disorders, eating difficulties, low self-esteem, anxiety, obsessions or compulsions, sleep problems, self-harming and the effects of abuse or traumatic events.

Once a referral is accepted into the child and adolescent mental health services team, the young person and their families are offered an initial assessment appointment and will be offered support, treatment or referral to another team/agency as appropriate.

For a very small number of young people, highly intensive assessment and treatment packages may be required. Children and young people offered this will usually have had significant previous input from services.

The child and adolescent mental health services teams have different professional backgrounds (different skills and training) and include psychiatrists, nurses, psychologists, social workers, psychotherapists, family therapists, outreach workers, and counsellors. The team are all trained in and have extensive experience of working with children and young people who have mental health difficulties. The team is also experienced in working with and supporting families.

The Community Paediatric service is a specialist service provided by Nottingham Children’s Hospital. Paediatricians are involved with a range of children including where there are medical or physical health concerns, developmental concerns, concerns about growth, disability etc.

Within this pathway community paediatricians will be involved where there is concern that there may be an underlying medical or developmental condition to explain a child‟s difficulties. The involvement of the community paediatric service will include assessment and where appropriate, diagnosis and management of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). The community paediatric service may also be asked for advice on co-morbid and associated medical conditions that may occur alongside behavioural, emotional and mental health issues. These include things like epilepsy, tics, sleep disorders, growth and nutrition concerns, gastro-intestinal problems amongst others.

There is a wide variation in the style, structure and content of parenting initiatives in the UK.  Programmes range from those that aim to support parents in general to cope better with raising a child, to those that work with parents facing specific difficulties.  Parenting programmes can be effective in improving behaviour problems in young children. Particularly strong evidence is available that behavioural approaches can improve the behaviour of 3-10 year olds.

The Families Information Service in Nottingham City provides free information, advice and guidance about organisations and services for children, young people and their families living in Nottingham City:

• Tel: 0800 458 4114.
• Email: fis@nottinghamcity.gov.uk

Universal services are those services provided to all children, young people and their families from health, education and other community services.

There are a wide range of services that are available locally that accept self-referrals and work with all children and young people; further information is available in the resource pack for professionals.

There is a targeted support team locally who work on a short term, intensive basis with young people and their families/carers. Young people are referred if they are at risk of being placed in care due to family breakdown or if they are moving placement or returning home from care. The service aims to support young people and their families at these difficult times. Referral is through a duty social worker.

The Youth Offending Team (YOT) works with young people aged 13-18 years who live in the city to reduce reoffending and protect the public. These are usually young people who have already made a court appearance. The team includes staff from the probation, police, health, education and Compass drug and alcohol services.

The Multi Systemic Therapy (MST) team is an intensive outreach service working with young people and their families who are at risk of going into custody or care. The service works primarily with young people involved with youth offending services, or those showing significant anti-social behaviour at home, at school or in the community

Children & Families Direct is the easy way to access family support & safeguarding services within Nottingham City. Further information is available in the resource pack for professionals.

The Inclusive Education Service (IES) works to promote the inclusion and attainment of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). The teams provide support in the home, early years settings, mainstream schools, special schools and pupil referral units. Support is currently provided by the:

• Autism Team, Learning Support Team and Sensory and Physical Team. For more information please click here.
• The Special Educational Needs (SEN) Team works closely with parents, schools, children and families’ colleagues and health services to ensure that children and young people with SEN get the most out of their school life and maximise their achievements. Each area of the City (North, Central and South) has a dedicated caseworker and officer who provide consultation, advice and problem solving services for schools, parents and carers, colleagues and partner agencies, in addition to the services provided by the team as a whole. For more information please click here.
• The Behaviour Support Team (BST) aims to support mainstream schools to meet the needs of young people experiencing emotional, social or behavioural difficulties through a holistic and multi-agency approach.
• The Community Educational Psychology Service is a statutory service which provides statutory and core work on behalf of Nottingham City Council, but which is also available for schools, nurseries and colleges to purchase to meet their own needs. Educational psychologists are specialists in child development 0-19 with expert knowledge in the social, emotional, behavioural, and cognitive development of children and young people. The range of children the team work with are those 0-19 with complex and multiple needs, those with autistic spectrum disorders, learning difficulties, attachment disorders, ADHD, anxiety disorders, selective autism, life threatening illnesses and those who have suffered stress and trauma.

While supporting a child or young person across the pathway it may become evident that a parent or carer is experiencing behavioural, emotional or mental health needs. Adult services can be accessed here.