The Meadows Child and Adolescent Trauma team is a small specialist service within CAMHS. It provides a multi-disciplinary and systemic approach to children and young people (0-18 yrs), and their families, who are experiencing emotional, behavioural and mental health difficulties following experiences of specific trauma (see below for specific presentations we work with). Our team covers the whole of Lothian and is based in The Fountainbridge Library Building, Dundee Street, Edinburgh. We also have access to some community spaces across Lothian.
As we are a small team, we are only able to work with specific experiences and presentations:
- Child Sexual Abuse / Sexual Assault – Children and young people who have experienced or alleged sexual abuse and / or assault (including Female Genital Mutilation-FGM). Linked to this we also provide a service to non-abusing parents and carers.
- Stay Safe Pathway – This is a pathway for consultation, assessment and intervention for inappropriate or problematic sexual behaviour. It is for children and young people who have not been charged in relation to this behaviour.
- Refugees, asylum seekers and unaccompanied minors – We support children and young people who may be experiencing emotional, psychological or behavioural difficulties as a result of war, trafficking, displacement, loss, exploitation etc.
We are happy to take enquiries and questions from schools, social workers, health or anybody working closely with families impacted by child sexual abuse, sexual assault, problematic sexualised behaviour or who are refugees, asylum seekers or unaccompanied minors.
What we do:
We offer consultation to professionals both within CAMHS and the wider network and provide teaching to a range of professionals and trainees.
Depending on the age of the child/ young person and individual circumstances we use a range and combination of interventions and therapies including:
- Psycho-educational input regarding trauma and abuse
- Working with and supporting the child / young person’s system
- Early intervention with parent / carer – abuse / trauma specific
- Longer term child / parent intervention – parallel treatment
- Psychodynamic Individual Therapy; Play Therapy; Arts Therapies
- Trauma focused Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
- Attachment Based Therapy
- Specific interventions regarding emotional regulation
- Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
- Interpersonal Therapy (IPT)
- Assessment, Intervention and Moving on (AIM) for inappropriate and problematic sexualised behaviour.
Referrals are reviewed daily. The referrer should specify which part of the service they are referring to and provide as much information as possible, as per the referral form.
- If a referral is felt to be inappropriate for Meadows, the referrer will be sent a letter or email explaining the reasons for this and, if possible, signposting to a more suitable resource.
- If a referral is accepted and it is felt a professional consultation may be helpful in the first instance this will be arranged.
If a referral is accepted, the young person/child will usually be booked in for an assessment/triage appointment within approximately six weeks. This can be with the young person only, parent / carer only, or a child / young person and parent / carer, an involved professional, or with anyone a young person chooses to bring as support.
The purpose of this appointment is to introduce the service, gather more information, answer questions, think about what might be helpful and provide advice and resources that may be useful. Where appropriate the child/ young people and children will be added to the waiting list for ongoing work.
- PLEASE NOTE: Any allegations of abuse or assault must be reported in line with child protection procedures.
Who can refer:
Referrals are accepted from any relevant professional including social work, GP, CAMHS outpatient teams, school staff, paediatrician, family support services.
How to refer:
Please use the Meadows referral form.
Consent to refer to our team must also be obtained from the young person and / or parents. It is also helpful for children, young people and families to have an understanding of The Meadows and what can be offered.
If you (professionals only) feel it would be helpful to discuss a referral, please telephone on (0131) 451 7400 or West Lothian 01506 434274.
For parents: Kidscape – Why my Child Kidscape-Leaflet-Why-My-Child.pdf
https://apps.nhslothian.scot/files/sites/2/Looking-after-your-child-following-trauma.pdf
