"we stick with difficult cases, giving young people the space and opportunity to settle, develop and ultimately make progress"
CAMHS
Young Foundations working in partnership with CAMHS
Young Foundations can provide Child & Adolescent Mental Health teams with another option in caring for children in need. We offer a holistic social care model augmented by education and with direct access to multidisciplinary health provision. Working to support frontline carers, we have a team of professionals available 24 hours a day, to ensure the best quality of care is available at all times.
Our team includes directly employed social workers, child psychiatrists, chartered psychologists, care staff and teachers. We do not rely on external agencies to deliver specialist healthcare and education.
In our initial communications with CAMHS professionals, there were a number of frequently asked questions that we felt were important to address on this site.
Is it a replacement for psychiatric inpatient beds?
No. But we do have the level of resources to be able to look after young people as an alternative to hospital care or as a step-down from hospital.
Is it for children whose current foster and/or residential placement is breaking down?
Yes. But it doesn’t stop there - the service is also for children in a wide range of other situations, such as young people needing to come from their family home, secure accommodation, or hospital care.
Is it intended to provide short-term 'respite' for families where young people's behaviour has become unmanageable for the family?
Yes. Young Foundations looks to be able to tailor a placement around a young person's individual needs, and work with the family to return them safely back home in as short a timeframe as possible.
Who will be paying for this service?
The service can be paid for in a variety of ways. Health, Education and Social Services have all funded young people in the past at Young Foundations. Sometimes joint funding is agreed between agencies.
Who will have ultimate medical responsibility for the child - CAMHS or Young Foundations?
We are happy to discuss local needs in relation to medical responsibility. We do provide 24 hour medical cover, and would be happy to work with RMO responsibility, but we can also work within your local protocols.
What is the referral process?
Arrangements for admission can be made for the young person to be placed with the following information:
- Referral Form
- Recent reports
- Medical consent
- Care Plan
- Essential Information Part 1
Provided the relevant information is available, a placement decision can be made within hours. A service agreement needs to be signed to facilitate the placement and, if necessary, pre-placement visits and meetings can be arranged.
How long will it take from referral to placement?
Depending on need, we can arrange same day admission if necessary. In an ideal world, we would hope to be able to plan admissions properly to ensure a smooth transition into our care.
What is a typical psychiatric profile of a child or adolescent in Young Foundations' care?
Whilst no one child or young person is the same, Young Foundations typically works with young people who are experiencing one or more of the following:
- A borderline or moderate learning difficulty: Most individual young people within this group can communicate effectively and develop independent skills with support.
- A.D.H.D: The principal characteristics of this condition are inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity; a diagnosis requires that such behaviours are demonstrated to a degree that is inappropriate for the young person’s age.
- Autistic Spectrum Disorders: A group of pervasive developmental disorders characterised by impairments around social interaction, language and imagination. These social impairments are usually associated with repetitive behaviours and possibly other challenging behaviours.
- Diagnosed Mental Illness: In young people this can range from depression to psychosis. All referrals are considered and risk assessed to ensure that the assessed needs of the young person can be met.
- Socialised Conduct Disorder: This disorder is characterised by persistent anti-social or aggressive behaviour and does not merely comprise of oppositional, defiant and disruptive behaviour. These young people are generally well integrated within their peer group. Young people may refuse to attend school, be involved in minor offences or become involved in group delinquency.
How much input is expected from CAMHS following the placement as most of the cases will need multi-agency intervention?
We are happy to discuss your preferred way of working. Young Foundations is a credible alternative for CAMHS teams when they need extra capacity in their system.