Four new services for children and young people with mental health needs are being introduced in Brighton and Hove this month.
 
The move will see streamlined services that provide a faster and easier route for the 2,000 children and young people that need support annually in the city. Around nine new members of staff are being recruited.
 
The new CAMHS (Children and Mental Health Services) will make accessing support easier and faster for schools, parents, GPs and other professionals through one new contact point. This replaces the previous process involving multiple contact points.
 
A new Urgent Help Team is being established for children and young people in crisis and needing intensive support. The four strong team, which will liaise closely with A&E and also provide support in children’s and families homes and community locations, aims to respond within 24 hours.
 
The Bridging the Gap service is for young people 14 -25. Specialist workers called TAPAs (Teen to Adult Personal Advisors) will offer support closer to where young people spend their time being based at youth hubs across the city. They will offer help and advice to youth workers and others who support young people as well as the young people themselves.  Two of the TAPAs will be specialists, one for Black and ethnic minority young people and one for lesbian, gay bisexual and transgender young people.
 
Access to services for children in care, including fostered or adopted children, has also been improved with assessments within four weeks. This offers access to a whole range of skilled workers for a short-term or longer-term service along with more intensive support for those more seriously affected.
 
Improved telephone consultations are also on offer at an early and preventative stage through a Children and Young People’s Trust CAMHS worker.
 
Councillor Vanessa Brown, Cabinet Member for Children & Young People, said:
“These new services will provide streamlined support to the most vulnerable as quickly as possible.  With one in ten young people suffering from emotional or mental distress the need for these services is evident.”

For more information about Brighton and Hove Council view:
www.brighton-hove.gov.uk