| 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.
Registered to take children aged 12 to 17 years, we specialise in
supporting young people with challenging behaviour and complex needs,
including learning difficulties, mental health and emotional and
behavioural problems. Our clinicians are able to work closely with
professionals in your service to develop invidualised packages of
care, or, if required, particular types of service provision.
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:
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.
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