Referral criteria Rotherham comprehensive child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) RDaSH Children and Young People s Mental Health Services
Service overview The Rotherham Comprehensive CAMHS team provides a Single Point of Access (SPA) function to all mental health / emotional support services, including voluntary and statutory services for children within the NHS Rotherham locality. The Rotherham Comprehensive CAMHS services detailed within this document refer to the Specialist CAMHS (previously referred to as STEPS and Tier 3). The Specialist CAMHS receive referrals for children and young people (up to the age of 18 years) via the CAMHS Access Team. Referrals process Please see the criteria on page 3 as a guide to the types of difficulties the Rotherham Comprehensive CAMHS service can help with. Anyone can contact the service on the telephone number identified at the end of this document for advice or consultation in relation to potential referrals. If you are concerned about a child or young person and their mental health please refer to the following information to help you decide if the young person may benefit from a referral into Specialist CAMHS. Your referral will be acknowledged within 5 working days and we aim to have an initial appointment with the child within 20 working days. If you have significant concerns, or the referral information suggests requirements of a more urgent nature they will be seen within 24 hours. In urgent cases, please contact the service by telephone in order to support us to meet the needs of the young person as soon as possible (01709) 304808. See referral process flow chart. Due to timescales for triaging referrals for urgency and arranging appointments it is important that telephone contact information is included within the referral detail. If available, please provide a copy of a Common Assessment Framework (CAF), in addition to the referral form outlining your reasons for referral. 2 Referral criteria
For young children under 5 years, a Universal referral tool should be completed by the Health Visitor and forwarded to the Under 5 s specialist workers based with the Rotherham Comprehensive CAMHS team. Additionally, please demonstrate that permission has been sought by the parents/legal carers and / or young person (where able to consent) in respect of the referral. Criteria for Referral Eating disorders (problems with weight and eating as detailed below) Anorexia: At least 10-15% below ideal weight Very rapid weight loss Bulimia: Engaging in binge and purge behaviour - Please provide the baseline BMI. Anxiety disorder or symptoms below Panic attacks Separation anxiety (including parent / child relationships) Attachment disorders Phobias irrational fears impacting on everyday life. Mood disorder or depression Physical symptoms including poor sleep and or appetite Cognitive symptoms, including negative thoughts about self or others Suicidal thoughts with, or without planned intent Loss of interest / social isolation Difficulty getting to sleep or early morning wakening. Post traumatic stress disorder Avoidance of reminders of the traumatic event, e.g. inability to speak about the event www.rdash.nhs.uk 3
Anxiety including hypervigilance Intrusive memories of the trauma e.g. nightmares Symptoms continuing after three months after recognised traumatic event, prior to this it would be expected that universal services would initially have involvement. Obsessive compulsive disorder Unwanted thoughts or behaviours affecting ability to perform daily life skills and activity Obsessions / compulsions with functional impairment. Deliberate self-harm Worrying thoughts about killing self/suicidal ideas Previous attempts to end life Presenting with maladaptive coping strategies (for example cutting self). Relationship difficulties (persistent or deteriorating problems with family and / or friends) Persistent pattern of abnormal functioning in interpersonal relationships Suspected Autistic Spectrum Disorder Children aged 5 years and above Persistent problems with communication and socialising (in different settings e.g. home and school) Abnormal fears and anxieties / obsessions Assessment and diagnosis. Suspected Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Children aged 6 years and above Poor concentration Over activity Increased frustration / aggression 4 Referral criteria Impulsivity which is evident in all environments e.g. (home and school).
Psychosis or suspected psychosis (e.g. hearing voices) Active symptoms including paranoia, delusional beliefs and abnormal perceptions, hearing voices and hallucinations Negative symptoms including deterioration in self-care and social and family functioning. Looked after children In addition to the above criteria, where there is concern about mental health that may lead to placement breakdown or is causing the child distress We would actively welcome telephone discussions / consultations prior to a referral being made. Please telephone the number below and ask to speak to a staff member from the Duty Team. Contact Details Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service Kimberworth Place Kimberworth Road Rotherham S61 1HE Tel: 01709 304808 Fax: 01709 302547. If there is evidence of a mental health condition CAMHS will also see young people with the following presentation: Drug and alcohol problems Conduct disorder Children with learning disabilities. Enuresis / encopresis Chronic fatigue / somatisation syndrome. www.rdash.nhs.uk 5
Referr receiv Referral process flowchart Is this referral urgent? Risk to self/others Suicidal thoughts/actions Symptoms of psychosis Actual self harm Triaged by C Access t Urgent assessment completed (within 24 hours) Routine appointment (within 20 working days) Under 5 s: Referral forwarded to Under 5 s Specialis Outcome of assessment communicated to referrer and family Appointment made with the young person/ family Assessment completed and actions agreed Outcome of assessment communicated to referrer and family Return to Specialist CAMHS Work un by Un Spe 6 Referral criteria
al ed AMHS eam Is the referral appropriate? Is there evidence of prior interventions delivered by universal services related to the presenting problem? (if not, redirect) Is there adequate information to make a decision? (gather more information) Is the child under 5 years? the t Redirect referral to universal services Further information needed Successful intervention no further action On-going problems evident/not resolved CAMHS contact schools, families, other services dertaken der 5 s cialist Liaison with CAMHSroutine/urgent assessment completed Offered urgent/ routine assessment or redirect www.rdash.nhs.uk 7
This information is correct at the time of publishing Last Reviewed: March 2013 DP7289/10438/03.13