Vulnerable groups
Young Minds Matter ensure that children and young people in vulnerable groups are able to access the most relevant pathway to match their presenting need and this is supplemented by the required level of additional support and shorter waiting times to access services.
Looked After Children mental health team (LAC)
Children in care generally have greater health needs than their peers. The CAMHS Review 2008 stated that:
Nearly 50% of children in care have a diagnosable mental health disorder, compared with 10% of the general population.
We offer support and containment to Looked After Children presenting with emotional and behavioural difficulties. We assist in maintaining placement stability and promoting emotional wellbeing. We do this by providing a psychological understanding of the young person’s needs to all involved in their care.
The LAC mental health team consists of two part time clinical psychologists and a part time mental health practitioner.
We offer support to children and young people up to 18 years old who are looked after by the local authority presenting with:
- low mood
- anxiety
- obsessive behaviours
- relationship and attachment difficulties
- anger and aggression
- self harming behaviours
- low self esteem.
Support is offered in one or several of the ways listed below:
- Individual therapeutic support for young people: including play therapy, attachment-based therapies, cognitive behavioural therapies, counselling, self-esteem work and talking therapy.
- Consultation, advice and support to professionals and carers involved in young people’s lives.
- Training to foster carers and adoptive parents. Training focuses on the attachment difficulties displayed by looked after children, including strategies for managing these issues.
- Training for residential home staff, providing a psychological understanding of the children and young people in their residential care.
- Psychological assessments of children and young people, looked after children and those in adoptive placements to inform future support and decision making.
- Support in coordinating the transition from child to adult mental health services for those reaching 18 years
Pupil referral unit support
We have a dedicated member of staff who works to support students from the pupil referral unit.
Children and young people with a learning disability
Our learning disability team is made up of a clinical psychologist and a part-time mental health practitioner, with support from an assistant psychologist.
We offer support to children and young people up to18 years old who have a moderate, severe, or profound learning disability as well as for those with profound and multiple learning disabilities.
To access our service the young person would also need to be presenting with evidence of a mental health difficulty, including but not limited to; low mood, anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder or self-injurious behaviour linked to mental health difficulty.
Our team offers one to one work if appropriate but will also work with parents, carers and schools as needed. Joint clinics are run with paediatrics in order to help identify those who need mental health support early and regular consultation takes place with local special schools in order to support their pupils. We also offer an advice line for parents and professionals.
To access this, please Telephone 01472 252570 and ask for the Learning Disabilities Team.