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Suffolk CFYP Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) Pathway

  • A multi-agency pathway under development, beginning a phased launch from late 2024/early 2025. When fully operational, we will be supporting children and young people (aged 0-18) with Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID).

  • Base: Haymills House, Station Road East, Stowmarket, IP14 1RQ
  • Service Manager Lead: Toni Scales (Service Manager, Suffolk Eating Disorder Services) and Dr Kathy Jackson (Principal Clinical Psychologist & Clinical Lead)
  • Reception phone number: 01449 745200
  • Service hours: 09:00 - 17:00, Monday - Friday.

What this service offers

The team will offer support to children and young people (aged 0-18) and families affected by Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID). This support will be delivered via:

  • An extensive online information and resource library.
  • Advice, guidance and consultation to the professional network.
  • Psychoeducational workshops.
  • Specialist ARFID multidisciplinary team (MDT) assessment, formulation, and (where clinically indicated) diagnosis.
  • Intervention planning and coordination, which may include advice and signposting, more intensive MDT input, crisis in-reach and/or multi-agency treatment coordination (as clinically indicated). 
  • A facilitated Parent/Carer Coproduction and Peer Support group

The pathway will benefit from multidisciplinary input including psychological therapies, psychiatry, dietetics, occupational therapy, and paediatrics. We will also aim to improve awareness and understanding of ARFID, via professional and public information / training events.

Access this service

ARFID resources will be accessible to the public via our pathway website (currently under development).  Access to the specialist Suffolk CFYP ARFID MDT will be available via professional referral only (e.g. GP, Paediatrician, CAMHS practitioner). We will not be able to accept self-referrals or family/ friend referrals.

While the ARFID pathway is under development for referrals, the team are currently offering specialist consultation to health and social care professionals seeking advice, guidance, and support with intervention planning for children and young with avoidant and/or restrictive eating. 

Professionals can access a consultation request form here.

How this service support carers including friends and family

With consent, and where age-appropriate, information provided by parents and carers will be integral to our assessment process. Treatments offered by the specialist ARFID MDT will be centred around a whole-family approach to support, ensuring parents, carers, friends and family can access relevant information. 

If you are the parent or caregiver for a child or young person experiencing avoidant / restrictive eating, and would like to get involved in our ARFID Co-production and Peer Support Group, or if you’d like to share your ideas or experiences, please email AskSuffolkARFID@nsft.nhs.uk. We look forward to collaborating with you.

Websites and resources you may find useful

ARFID support forums  

Urgent help

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

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

For more information, see Help in a Crisis.

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