Uses 
Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS)
CAMHS ACCESS POINT (CAP)
All referrals to Targeted and Specialist CAMHS for emotional well-being and mental health services will be via the CAMHS Access Point (CAP). This triage will be co-ordinated by the local CAMHS teams of targeted and specialist staff.
An integrated pathway for Emotional Health and Well-being has been developed aligning the Common Assessment Framework (CAF) and CAMHS Access Points (CAP). This will enable appropriate referrals to CAMHS services by providing:
- clear description and eligibility criteria
- helpline and consultation process with CAMHS specialists
- access points in East Kent, West Kent and Swale
- standardised referral form linked to the Family CAF
- guidance for managers and practitioners
It is key to the development of CAMHS Access Points that this new referral pathway does not duplicate or replace the children in need assessment process. The Kent and Medway Threshold Criteria for Child in Need is available on the following link:
CAF/KM_Eligibility_and_Access_FINAL_Electronic_March_2011.pdf
Context of the Development of CAMHS Access Points
The children and young people’s emotional well-being and mental health National Support Team (NST) from the Department of Health visited Kent in September 2010 and interviewed a wide range of clinicians and professionals across mental health and wider emotional wellbeing services in Kent.
Following this visit the team made a series of recommendations. This captured the strengths that they found in Kent, including strong dedication and commitment across services, but also significant systemic errors. The overarching recommendation of the visit was a complete system redesign and the development of a Community CAMHS model.
One of the key issues identified was the large number of young people referred to a specialist CAMHS service at Tier 3, who could have been seen earlier and more effectively in Tier 2 services. Part of this is due to a lack of clarity for the current system of referral.
Two multi-agency stakeholder events were held across Kent with over 100 people from mental health, General Practice, social care, education and the voluntary sector attending to consider the best way forward. The recommendation was for the development of CAMHS Access Points for all emotional well-being and mental health referrals, building upon examples of good practice locally and nationally.
Pathway Diagram (link to document)
- The diagram shows the integrated approach to meeting children/young people’s emotional well-being and mental health issues
- The pathway emphasises the importance of consultation with CAMHS to prevent any inappropriate referrals and delays in support
- The Common Assessment Framework (CAF) to be followed for all children/young people requiring the support of CAMHS and any other service(s). This will provide a joined up, co-ordinated approach for children and families
- Direct access to Emotional Wellbeing Services (Early Intervention) where this is the only support needed
NB: Urgent referrals go direct to Specialist CAMHS for an immediate Psychiatric Emergency
or
Urgent referrals go direct to Social Services if there are any Child Protection concerns.
Description and Eligibility Criteria (link to document)
- Clear and transparent description and eligibility criteria for targeted and specialist CAMHS
- Ways in which this may be delivered
- Criteria for accessing targeted services
- Criteria for emergency, urgent and standard access to specialist services
- It is important that if a professional is unclear about whether to make a referral having checked the criteria they should, in the first instance, use the consultation process
- Discussion with local CAMHS teams of targeted and specialist staff. If necessary, more indepth consultation may be offered.
- Details of the telephone helpline are available from local providers or can be found on: http://www.kenttrustweb.org.uk/Children/kct_integrated_processes.cfm
- CAMHS Access Point will triage all referrals to targeted and specialist CAMHS services
- Access Points are set up locally across Kent
- Operational details are available from local providers or can be found on:
Standardised Referral Form linked to the Family CAF (link to form)
CAP Referral Form for GPs in East Kent (link to form)
- Standardised form based on the Family CAF form to support alignment of processes
- Two page referral form for all referrals to targeted and specialist CAMHS
- All forms must be fully completed and evidence meeting eligibility criteria
- Informed and explicit consent is required from the family and/or young person for all referrals.
Guidance, information, advice and training for managers and practitioners (links to other info as detailed)
- Other key information including details of the CAF process, local providers, useful websites, frequently asked questions, abbreviations etc. is available from local providers or can be found on this website.
- Training for frontline staff around the new referral pathway will be cascaded by targeted and specialist CAMHS providers
- Primary Mental Health in East Kent - Leaflet
- ACCENT, Information for Referrals - Leaflet
- ACCENT Initial Referral Form - Form
- Any queries please contact your local CAMHS providers
Local Steering Groups (link to details) including CAMHS providers and key multi-agency stakeholders will monitor and review implementation of the new pathway, underpinned by a clear performance framework and auditing of the process.
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