Info about Specialist CAMHS (Tier 2-4)
Our Young Advisors Group interviewed some of the staff working for specialist CAMHS in Somerset. What they had to say would apply to most CAMHS services everywhere else, including Cardiff.
What is CAMHS?
CAMHS stands for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services.
All the services anywhere in the country are called CAMHS. CAMHS covers a broad range of the services, including GPs etc…
Specialist CAMHS, is clinic based and works with children and young people from 4-18 years old.
How long will I need to wait to see someone?
If you are in crisis and perhaps in hospital you will be seen within a day or two. However for more routine cases you will usually have an initial phone call or letter within two or three weeks.
Who will I see first?
Usually the first contact will be with a Referral and Assessment Worker who will find out whether this is the right service for you.
How long will a first meeting be?
An initial consultation will probably be about half an hour.
How long will other sessions be?
Further consultations might be as long as an hour.
Will I have a choice of workers?
Ultimately yes you will have some choice, but probably not at the very beginning.
Male or female workers?
You should have a choice eventually
Will I lie on a couch?
No!
What do I need to bring?
Anything that you think might be useful, though bringing nothing is fine. You will also need to bring a friend or family member who knows you well.
Will it be like a hospital?
No, we try to be as little like a hospital as possible.
Will I be taken to hospital if I am not well?
Not unless you are very unwell, in which case, your family will probably take you.
Can I go on my own?
If you are under 16 years old, then it is expected that you bring someone with you, however if you are over 16 then you can go on your own.
Can I bring someone with me like a friend?
Of course
Can I talk to my CAMHS person in between sessions?
It is possible, however if you needed to do this regularly, you might look with your worker at finding someone else to contact.
How often will sessions be?
It depends, if your are undergoing individual therapy then every week perhaps, or every three to four weeks for family therapy. If your medication is being reviewed then much less often.
Will staff have uniforms on?
No!
When are CAMHS open?
They are open between 9am and 5pm Monday to Friday.
Can CAMHS come and visit me?
If necessary, but home visits have to be justified because they are time consuming.
When will I stop needing to see someone?
Entirely depends, if the problem resolves then you would stop seeing CAMHS. There isn’t a time limit on the service, however in terms of age, CAMHS don’t see people beyond the age of 18 and do not take referrals from age 17+.When you are approaching 18 you and the team will decide if you need to go to the adult services or help from elsewhere, or not at all
What if seeing CAMHS doesn’t help?
You might have a review to see why it isn’t helping, it might be that you are having the wrong type of therapy, or that you need medication, or simply that the it’s the wrong service and doesn’t suit what you need. For example if the problem is at school, then the support may need to be school based, or the school may also need to be involved in your care.
What if I don’t want to come back?
Generally speaking you don’t have to, although you will have a conversation about why you don’t want to. It may also be the case that your family want you to.
What is your confidentiality policy?
You will be asked who it is/isn’t alright to share information with. You will be asked if you want letters that are produced regarding your care copied to you. There is a limit to the confidentiality, for example if you or another child/person was at substantial risk, something would need to be done and information would need to be passed on, most likely to social services. You would be talked to first and told what information is going to be passed on.
We help young people age 6-19 in Somerset and Cardiff to get their views heard on issues affecting their emotional or mental wellbeing. Our service is free, independent and confidential.