New name for Liverpool CAMHS
In line with the national approach to promoting children and young people’s mental health support in the broader context and alleviating the typical stigma associated with CAMHS as a clinical term, the Liverpool CAMHS Partnership is now known as:
Mental Health Support for Children and Young People in Liverpool.
Has Liverpool’s mental health offer for children and young people changed?
No, Liverpool’s Integrated Children and Young People’s Mental Health Offer remains the same. Mental health support for children and young people aged 0-25 and their families is still delivered collaboratively by a partnership of NHS providers and 3rd sector organisations that work together to provide services across different levels of need, from prevention – being mentally healthy – to high levels of specialist help. This partnership of funded services is commissioned by ICB NHS Cheshire and Merseyside (Liverpool Place Team).
Parents, carers, professionals and young people can make an online referral. Our ‘While You’re Waiting’ guide explains the tools, resources, and support available while waiting for an initial assessment (after a referral).
The children and young people’s mental health offer is based on a stepped model of care, complementing Liverpool’s Levels of Need Framework. Children and young people can access the offer’s pathway at any stage, depending on their mental health needs.
Our focus is on ensuring that children, young people, and their families are supported at the universal level within their communities.
You can see the range of support available at different levels of need in our handy age-appropriate snapshot guides.
Ages 0-5
Ages 5-11
Ages 11-16
Ages 16-18
Ages 18-25
Why are we making this change?
Local context – During a recent SEND review, parents and carers expressed the need for clarification of what CAMHS is in Liverpool.
Locally, there is an overwhelming view that CAMHS is often stigmatising and seen solely as the clinical mental health support for children and young people offered by the Fresh CAMHS team at Alder Hey rather than the full spectrum of support available from commissioned providers.
Families (and some professionals) in Liverpool have shared this misunderstanding for some time, despite ongoing communications attempting to reinforce the message that Liverpool’s Mental Health Offer for Children and Young People (CYP) is, in fact, a robust partnership of NHS providers and third-sector organisations. This collaborative effort is dedicated to providing services across the different levels of need, from prevention—being mentally healthy—to high levels of specialist help, ensuring a comprehensive support system for our children and young people.
National Context – Nationally, ‘CAMHS’ refers to one of the three aspects of mental health support services for CYP.
Children and young people’s mental health services are a range of support services available to children and young people. They are usually delivered or funded by the NHS.
They will be different depending on where CYP live but can include:
- Mental health support teams (MHSTs) in schools and colleges.
- NHS-funded services from local mental health organisations, such as charities and social enterprises.
- NHS services – called Children and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS).
Source: www.nhs.uk/mental-health/children-and-young-adults/mental-health-support/mental-health-services/
Do you want to learn about the offer?
We’ve developed a new bite-size course that gives an insight into the range of organisations and professionals that work together to support children, young people, and families in the city region.
The course will help delegates understand how to ask for support, where to find information about support, and other ways to support children and young people while waiting for professional interventions.
The course will run monthly. Next event: 24/09/2024 10:00 am – 11:30 am