Information
Children and young people are looked after at home and looked after away from home for varied reasons. Their legal situations are also varied.
In the context of care environment changes, possibly difficult family relationships or previous trauma; the experience of distress, emotional and behavioural variation is common.
Risks can be very changeable.
Difficult or complex behaviour is not always a sign of mental health disorder, but a timely mental health opinion can be crucial.
Please also see the Corporate Parenting page: https://apps.nhslothian.scot/refhelp/guidelines/paediatrics/corporate-parenting/
Referrers should first consult with CAMHS teams before referring. This helps match varied individual needs with a range of direct and indirect CAMHS options.
Urgent referrals for children and young people in this category will commonly be to identify if they present with a mental health disorder or an associated risk of serious harm to themselves or others.
Routine assessment may be warranted if there are persistent symptoms of psychological distress and/or a serious and persistent impairment of their day to day social functioning across time and setting.
CAMHS will usually liaise with the allocated Social Worker to ensure a co-ordinated approach, confirm who has parental responsibilities and consider support for attendance.
This guidance is in line with national policy drivers e.g. CAMHS national priorities, Getting it Right for Every Child and the local authorities Integrated Assessment Framework.
Please also see the Corporate Parenting page: https://apps.nhslothian.scot/refhelp/guidelines/paediatrics/corporate-parenting/
