Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services Crisis and Home Treatment Team
We help anyone aged up to 18 years who needs to be seen urgently because they are experiencing significant mental health problems.
The aim of the service is to provide rapid assessment and treatment of young people experiencing mental health difficulties.
Once a referral is received, the team will aim to make telephone contact with the family within two hours and aim to assess the child/young person within 24 hours.
All children or young people reviewed at the Leicester Royal Infirmary and not known to CAMHS will be offered a seven day follow up appointment, if it is felt that they do not meet the criteria for a referral into the CAMHS crisis service, following a mental health review. If, following assessment, the child is accepted for a period of home treatment, this could last up to six week depending on the child/young person’s improvement and progress. The treatment will be a combination of visits at a location where the child/young person feels most comfortable, and telephone support for both the child/young person and their family.
All children admitted to the CAMHS inpatient unit in Coalville and who live in Leicestershire, will be screened/assessed for the suitability of early discharge from the ward with support from the crisis team. Out of hours telephone support for children open to home treatment is provided by the adult crisis team 0300 300 1010 from 10pm – 8am.
Referral criteria
The referral criteria is that the young person is at immediate and significant risk of self-harm or suicide. The child/young person is experiencing acute psychological or emotional distress which is having significant impact on their wellbeing and that they are not feeling able to attend school or is having an impact on their schooling. The child/young person is being considered for an admission to a mental health inpatient unit. There is immediate or significant risk to others.
Criteria exclusion
This will exclude those cases requiring any form of physical intervention as a priority eg. following over dose or cuttingers due to their mental health.
How to access this service
All referrals are by telephone on 0116 295 0485 following consent given by both the child and their family/guardian to refer to the Crisis and Home Treatment Team. If consent is not given by the young person or family, the referrer needs to give consideration to refer for a mental health act assessment, dependant on the child/young person’s clinical needs and risks that are identified, this can be discussed with the CAMHS Crisis and Home Treatment Team prior to making a decision.
What conditions do you cover
The child/young person is at immediate and significant risk of self-harm or suicide. The child/young person is experiencing acute psychological or emotional distress which is having significant impact on their wellbeing and that they are not feeling able to attend school or is having an impact on their schooling. The child/young person is being considered for an admission to a mental health inpatient unit. There is immediate or significant risk to others due to their mental health.
Contact info
0116 295 0485From 10pm - 8am, telephone support is provided by the Adult Crisis Team tel: 0300 300 1010.