Transformation Plan Overview February 2020

Partner agencies in Waltham Forest have been working together to identify ways of improving services for children and young people (CYP) experiencing mental distress.

Our vision is to be able to reach children who need help earlier and to be able to provide the most effective and efficient evidenced based intervention available.

New developments in our plan include setting up a new, more accessible mental health service for children and young people (CYP) in schools and other community settings. The key features of the service are to:

• Provide individual and group support, guidance and talking therapy to help deal with issues such as anxiety, depression, stress and trauma
• Work jointly with school staff to support implementation of the Mental Health Charter and the PHSE programme to promote exercise and good nutrition.

The resource is limited and we are looking to launch the service over several phases, with learning applied in each successive phase.

 

Alongside this new service development there has also been significant investment into specialist CAMHS.  The aim is to reduce waiting and to ensure only those that need it are referred through the creation of the new school and community based service.

The partnership is also doing many things to improve the experience and effectiveness of the services we provide. This includes:

• Talking to CYP and their families about how services can be improved
• Providing clearer information and communication about CAMH services co produced with CYP and their families
• Clear clinical pathways are being developed which will help make access easier and what support is available clearer.
• Using technology to provide support and interventions such as , KOOTH, an on line tool providing online counselling and help with managing feelings and emotions
• Providing help and support from more venues to reduce stigma and promote access
• Creating  drop in services to improve accessibility

 

Participation and Engagement

 

Co-production and engagement are essential elements of the CAMHS improvement plan to ensure that services meet the needs of local children, young people and their families and a number of

engagement activities have taken place and are planned

 

We will continue to actively talk to a range of partners to progress this work.

Read the full transformation plan here.