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Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) - Norfolk

  • Our Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) provide care pathways for children and young people in Norfolk with moderate to severe mental health difficulties. This is for children 14 years of age and under. CAMHS provide a range of therapeutic interventions. This includes art therapy, systemic family therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) and play therapy. The service hosts a Looked After Children's team and a neurodevelopmental pathway for those with complex developmental disorders.

  • Service Manager Lead: Clare O'Connor
  • Service Contact: Central and West Norfolk – Telephone 0300 790 0371; East Norfolk, Great Yarmouth and Waveney – Telephone 0300 123 1882
  • Address:
    Resource Centre,  Northgate Hospital,  Northgate Street, Great Yarmouth, NR30 1BU Thurlow House,  Goodwins Road, King’s Lynn, PE30 5PD Mary Chapman House,  Hotblack Road, Norwich, NR2 4HN
  • Service hours: Monday to Friday from 9:00 until 17:00.

What this service offers

CAMHS meets people who use their service to complete an assessment and to plan treatment. This meeting is usually with their family.

We offer appointments to service users at local clinics. How frequently and how long people continue to use this service depends on the difficulties they are experiencing.

Our team cares for young people with a range of mental health problems, including:

· Anxiety,

· Deliberate self-harming,

· Low mood,

· Attachment disorders,

· Those struggling with the effects of major negative life events,

· Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder / ADHD combined with anxiety or low mood,

· Autistic spectrum disorders combined with mental health problem such as anxiety or low mood.

CAMHS works collaboratively with young people and their families /carers in developing and working towards treatment goals. Their level of motivation is balanced against level of severity so individuals with high levels of need can still receive a service even if the person has limited motivation levels.

Find out more about this service in the information video below. It is our intention (based on feedback) to add additional footage when COVID-19 lockdown eases.)

Access this service

The CAMHS service accepts referrals from GPs, schools, health visitors and all agencies involved with young people and their families.

In order for a referral to be made a person must be:

· aged 14 years and under,

· registered with a GP within the Norfolk and Waveney area,

· Have moderate to severe mental health difficulties across three domains (severe issues in one domain alone or moderate issues in two or more). Impact on these domains can vary depending on an individual's stage of development or context:

· Have an impact on level of function (mild / moderate / severe),

· Have a level of risk (mild / moderate / severe),

· Have a level of distress (mild / moderate / severe).

The team also takes into consideration previous and current engagement with other services. They also consider previous responses to interventions where applicable.

CAMHS may not accept a referral from a young person whose primary problem is best met by another service. Other services that might be more appropriate include the Early Intervention Team, Community Eating Disorders Team, Wellbeing, Early Help Team or Voluntary Sector services. Also, if the problems are isolated to one environment such as education the person may not be appropriate for referral to CAMHS. This also applies to individuals with substance misuse problems that interfere with intervention where they are not motivated to work on this as part of their treatment.

Professionals who are making referrals to the CAMHS service must contact the area duty team for advice – see contact details.

Visiting and onsite facilities

We hold CAMHS clinics at the following locations:

· Silverwood Child and Family Centre, Northgate Hospital, Great Yarmouth, NR30 1BU. Free parking is available at this site. Clinics are on the ground floor.

· Mary Chapman House, Hotblack Road, Norwich, NR2 4HN. Free parking is available at this site. Clinics are on the ground floor.

· Thurlow House, Goodwins Road, King’s Lynn, PE30 5PD. Free parking is available at this site. Clinics are on the ground floor.

How this service support carers including friends and family

The CAMHS team meets service users with their family. It involves parents and carers in planning treatment.

When families need more support our team will work with other agencies such as Children's Services to help organise this. This could be , for example.

CAMHS can also provide information about other voluntary organisations who work with young people with particular difficulties, such as autistic spectrum disorders.

Information video

Watch the video below to find our how mental health services can help young people to thrive.

Websites and resources you may find useful

Kooth 

Kooth is a virtual counselling service for young people to receive support online or by telephone. Go to the website at www.kooth.com to watch their video and 'Join' to arrange an appointment. 

Just One Norfolk 

Just One Norfolk offers a wide range of information, including mental health guidance, for young people. Telephone the team on 0300 300 0123 or visit www.JustOneNorfolk.nhs.uk  

This service has also created a downloadable support and self-help guide.

Young Minds 

Young Minds is a mental health charity for young people, providing information, advice and support for them and their parents. Visit www.youngminds.org.uk or if you need urgent help  text YM to 85258 or go direct to www.youngminds.org.uk/find-help/get-urgent-help/. 

Young Minds also provide a helpline for parents on 0808 802 5544. 

Childline 

Childline offer support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for children any young people by telephone or online at www.childline.org.uk. 

Shout 

Shout is a texting service which is free on all major mobile networks for anyone in a crisis. It’s a place to go if you’re struggling and need immediate help. Visit the website at www.giveusashout.org or text Shout to 85258. 

Stay Alive 

Stay Alive is a suicide prevention resource packed full of useful information and tools to help you stay safe in crisis. You can use it if you are having thoughts of suicide or if you are concerned about someone else who may be considering suicide. Go to www.prevent-suicide.org.uk/find-help-now/stay-alive-app/ 

Anna Freud Centre 

The Anna Freud Centre website provides lots of resources for young people and parents about mental health and wellbeing. Go to www.annafreud.org/on-my-mind/ 

Government COVID-19 guidance:

COVID-19: guidance on supporting children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing

 

Workbooks

Videos

Urgent help

For an urgent assessment, your GP will send us a referral and if we deem this to be urgent, we will start the assessment process within 24 hours.

If you are a service user and are in crisis and need support urgently you can contact your service on the number which will have been provided.  

Call 111 and select the mental health option to speak to our 24 hour mental health crisis line.

If you are with someone who has attempted suicide, call 999 and stay with them until the ambulance arrives. 

If anyone is at serious risk of harm, call 999 and ask for the police. 

For non-life threatening medical situations, call NHS111 on 111.  

For more information, see Help in a Crisis.

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