CYP Mental Health Support in Acute Hospital Settings

AIM of the service:

To develop and deliver a MHWB Support service across the 4 Black Country acute Emergency Departments (ED’s). The service will have 4.5 dedicated MHWB support workers operating over the 4 sites, with a named support worker lead for each ED.

Following presentation at EDs, Barnardo’s can support in the following ways:

1. Offer a direct referral into service for CYP who do NOT require a CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service) Crisis intervention assessment (i.e. low-level/social MHWB presentations). This offers a discharge option/package for ED practitioners and self-referral options for families/parents

2. Offer a step-down pathway following assessment from the CAMHS Crisis Intervention Team and are not requiring acute admission and/or further involvement from the CAMHS crisis intervention service.

Key activities of the service:

• Offer CYP appropriate support during their admission at ED (as and when available, including provision of self-referral and self-help material, information/advice/guidance resources and simple mechanisms for ED practitioner referral to service.

• Provide short- and longer-term information and support (including therapeutic approachs) for the CYP and family, offering a follow up programme of:

Holistic 1:1 support for CYP, to improve their mental health and wellbeing
The development of integrated pathways into community support; including schools, early help, community/voluntary provision
Family support/parenting to build capacity within the home, to manage and support the CYP’s needs.
The development of a conduit between the CAMHS Crisis Teams, the ED, core CAMHS provisions, early help/children’s social care, and wider community support, to create alternative solutions to ED presentations and hospital admissions, wherever safe and practical.