Welcome to Portsmouth CAMHS

Our Specialist CAMHS services provide mental health service for 5-18 year olds suffering with acute, chronic or severe mental health problems.

We provide assessment, treatment and support to young people and their families. Interventions include: Psychoeducation, care coordination, groups, family-based interventions/ therapy, individual therapy, medication, referral to other services where appropriate.

CAMHS staff are professionals who have had specialist training in child and adolescent mental health. The team includes nurses, mental health practitioners, social workers, therapists, psychiatrists, psychologists and business support colleagues.

Referrals

Referrals are accepted from any professional in health, education, social services and the voluntary sector. This may result in support to access a more appropriate service or an urgent first appointment with CAMHS (within 72 hours) or a routine first appointment with CAMHS (within 6 weeks).

Access our referral form here (Word document, 772 KB)

Contact us by phone or email

• Telephone: 0300 123 6632 (8.30am-5pm, Mon to Fri)
• Email: [email protected]

Or send referral by post:

Falcon House, St James Hospital, Locksway Road

Portsmouth

PO4 8LD

Meet the Teams

Specialist CAMHS is made up of a number of teams based at Portsmouth CAMHS (Falcon House). However, sometimes we work in the community to meet the needs of the child or young person or their family; this may mean that we see you at school, at home or at a community site such as a family hub.

SPA Team

SPA, or Single Point of Access, consists of Mental Health Practitioners, or MHPs. They have backgrounds in mental health nursing, teaching and social work. They are all experienced in helping children, young people and their families and professionals. SPA offers:

• One place that will receive all referrals for planned (0 to 18 years of age) and unplanned care (0 to 18 years of age) between the hours of 9am-5pm, Monday to Friday. This does not include referrals that will meet the criteria for our Looked after Children or Learning Disabilities Team as explained below.
• Access to an advice and consultation line for parents/carers and young people and professionals 9am - 5pm, Monday to Friday on 0300 123 6632.
• Following receipt of a referral families or young person will be contacted within 2 days. All referrals will then be looked at by our SPA clinicians, this means that we will make contact with parents/carers and/or young person and any other relevant professionals with consent. Following these discussions a plan will be agreed together. This may result in support to access a more appropriate service or an urgent appointment with CAMHS (within 72 hours) or a routine appointment with CAMHS (within 4 weeks).
• Access to an up to date menu of resources including the early help offer and evidence based training packages for practitioners working with emotional and mental health needs.
• Brief interventions for children and young people who have moderate mental health problems that cannot be managed within universal services.
• Out of hours there is a 24/7 on call service that can be contacted for psychiatric emergencies at St Marys 0300 123 6610.

Extended Team

The Extended CAMHS Team offers assessment and intervention for children and young people aged 0-18 years and their families/support networks who have moderate to severe mental health disorders. It is a multi disciplinary team, which means we come from a range of experiences and backgrounds but have all had special training in child and adolescent mental health. We include

• Nurse Specialists
• Specialist Therapists
• Child and Adolescent Psychiatrists
• Child Psychotherapists
• Clinical Child Psychologists
• Family Therapists
• Creative Psychotherapists – i.e. Art, Play, Drama.

Learning Disabilities and Child Development Centre

The Learning Disabilities team see children who attend one of the special schools in Portsmouth, namely Mary Rose, Redwood Park, Cliffdale and Willows.

Looked After Children

The Looked After Children Team works with children and young people in the care of Portsmouth Social Care (this means that they will have a Portsmouth Social Worker). The work of this team is underpinned by attachment theory and the development challenges that may result when this is disrupted. They aim to work both with the child or young person and their carer to prevent placement breakdown and the distress and trauma this may cause for all involved. Referrals are accepted from social workers, family placement team, residential unit, health and education.