CAMHS Unscheduled Care Service (UCS) is an emergency mental health assessment service. It is based at the Melville Unit, RHCYP, but covers all of Lothian. It is a nurse led service. The service will see children and young people who are experiencing a mental health crisis and require an emergency mental health assessment. The focus from CAMHS USC will specifically be around risk assessment and safety planning.
Presentations may include:
- Overdose
- Self harm
- Evidence of significant mental illness
- Concern relating to risk of suicide / serious self-harm.
CAMHS USC is not a replacement for local CAMHS services. Where a young person is known to CAMHS and they present to GP services, within office hours, the duty worker in their local team should be contacted to discuss a plan. Young people who are concerning but not at immediate risk and in need of a same day assessment, should be referred to their local CAMHS team.
CAMHS UCS is available 7 days per week 7.30 am – 8.30 pm and overnight on Saturday – Tuesday nights (inclusive). Overnight, outwith these times, emergency assessments are carried out via the CAMHS on call Dr rota system.
CAMHS UCS can:
- carry out a comprehensive mental health and risk assessment
- Plan for safety with the young person and parent/carer
- Link with health care providers
- Make onward referrals for longer term support where required
- provide short term follow up (generally by phone) where required, to ensure and maintain safety.
CAMHS UCS does not deal with issues relating specifically to medication. For advice regarding this, the local CAMHs team should be contacted, within office hours, and the CAMHS on call Dr rota system, out with (0131 536 1000).
PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL PHONE NUMBERS ARE FOR PROFESSIONAL USE ONLY.
Information needed for assessment
Prior to making a referral to CAMHS USC, it is helpful if you can establish the following:
- Does the young person appear to be at immediate risk (do they have a plan to end their life or seriously harm themselves?).
- Is there evidence of mental illness?
- What supports are already in place? Could these supports be used at the moment?
- Are family/carers aware?
Who to refer:
Children and young people are who experiencing a mental health crisis and require an emergency mental health assessment. The focus from CAMHS USC will specifically be around risk assessment and safety planning. Please see above for details.
Who not to refer:
- Those just requiring medication guidance
- Those not at immediate risk (refer to CAMHS locality service)
- Those known to CAMHS and presenting during office hours.
How to refer:
Please phone:
Main office number- 0131 312 1352
Mobile pager numbers – Edinburgh 07632 377650
West Lothian 07632 377649
