CAMHS CAST - Information for Parents

As you are registered with a Worcestershire GP CAMHS CAST can offer mental health specific consultation, advice, support and training.

A CAMHS CAST practitioner has been approached by a professional working with your child to provide advice in relation to mental health/ emotional difficulties. This could have been via:

  • School
  • Nurses
  • Health visitors
  • GPs
  • All agencies within the children’s workforce
  • Social services
  • Voluntary sector organisations

How will CAST work?

Senior CAMHS clinicians will offer:

  • A comprehensive mental health specific service to professionals working with your child.
  • Consultation, advice, support and training so that school staff and other professionals understand their responsibility and role in supporting the mental health of your child.
  • Advice on mental Health issues that may be affecting groups of children within school eg self harm.

What happens now?

A senior CAMHS clinician will attend a professionals meeting to provide mental health advice and discuss concerns about your child. This could be at your child’s school or in a community or health care setting.

The CAMHS clinician will support those working with your child to develop a holistic plan ensuring that emotional wellbeing and mental health issues are addressed appropriately.

The CAMHS clinician will be able to suggest services and approaches that may be able to offer further support to your child.

If there appears to be serious concerns about your child’s mental health a CAMHS CAST clinician will be able to carry out a joint mental health assessment alongside professionals working with your child such as a school nurse.

If the CAMHS CAST practitioner jointly assesses your child and identifies a significant mental health issue, they MAY be transitioned to specialist CAMHS for treatment.

In order to discuss your child we need your permission.

What will happen with my child’s information?

  • Information about your child will be stored on an electronic system called Carenotes.
  • Records must be kept confidential, secure and accurate.
  • Only members of staff that have a legitimate relationship with your child and are involved in their care will have access to these records.
  • Post meeting to discuss your child a summary will also be shared with the referrer, GP and a copy sent home.
  • If there is anyone who you do not wish to see your child’s information you can specify them.