Child and Adolescent Mental Health (CAMHS) - Isle of Wight

About the service

The Isle of Wight Child and Adolescent Mental Health (CAMHS) provide a service to Children and Young People Aged 0-18 years and their families, who are experiencing emotional health and wellbeing difficulties due to a mental health condition.

The teams within IOW CAMHS includes the Specialist Eating Disorder Team, Inreach/Outreach Team (IROR), Community Team, systemic family consultation, Psychology, Psychotherapy and Psychiatry.

What we do

We work with any child aged 0-18 that requires specialist provision to manage moderate to severe mental health concerns and risk taking behaviours. Within Isle of Wight CAMHS there are child and adult psychotherapists, systemic family therapists and clinical psychologists who specialise in OCD, ticks, tourette’s, as well as adverse childhood experiences and trauma. Also within our team are CBT therapists, occupational therapists, social workers, consultant psychiatrists, a youth offending mental health practitioners and a joint CAMHS/ paediatric nurse.

CCAMHS will offer an intervention to any 0-18 year old that meets criteria and has an identified emotional-behavioural or mental health concern provided that, prior to referral, all of the following boxes can be ticked:

• First line interventions and wider family support (e.g. parenting support, school-based care plan, Tier 1 and 2 mental health intervention, appropriate physical examinations) have already been put in place to try and address the referral issues. Where there is a significant risk to health that requires early CCAMHS involvement, a comprehensive assessment by the referrer could be considered a first line intervention.
• Where safeguarding concerns about the child are present, the Children’s Services team and/or your service lead for safeguarding has been contacted for advice.
• The referrer has gained the consent of the person with parental responsibility and, where appropriate, the child or young person for the referral to be made.
• The child or young person has been met and assessed by the referrer.
• If you are unsure of what CCAMHS can provide, you have contacted the service to discuss this.

Accessing the service

Any professional or voluntary sector employee can refer a child or young person to CCAMHS. Parents, carers and young people can contact the service to discuss how they can access our interventions. Adolescents who feel that they have mental health difficulties are able to self-refer.

In the referral form there is a list of mental health presentations and the appropriate services to refer to. If you are unsure as to whether to make a referral to CCAMHS, you are encouraged to telephone the team to discuss the case further on 01983 523602.

Standard written referral:
In order to make a standard referral to CCAMHS you will need to complete the CCAMHS referral form.  These referrals are reviewed weekly and you will receive written confirmation of the outcome of your referral.

Urgent telephone referral:
If you feel the level of risk is such that a mental health response is required within 24 hours, please telephone your referral through to the service. CCAMHS telephone lines are open 8:30am-5pm Monday to Thursday and 8:30am-4:30pm on Fridays. Outside of these hours, for an urgent mental health response, please contact the appropriate GP or the NHS 111 service.