Going Live – Monday 14 September 2015

Children and Young People’s Referral Management Centre Expansion

To now include a Single Point of Referral for all Professionals for:

• New: Emotional Wellbeing and Mental Health Services for Children and Young People

• New: Northampton General Hospital’s Community Paediatrics, Children’s Community

  Nursing, Children’s Physiotherapy and Child and Adolescent Bereavement Service

• Existing: Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trusts Specialist Children’s

   

  Services

  We are excited to announce that from 14 September 2015 we will be launching a central point of contact for referrals and queries regarding emotional wellbeing and mental health services for children and young people.

  Alongside this, we will also be expanding the existing children and young people’s Referral Management Centre (RMC), which currently manages all referral for NHFT’s Specialist Children’s Services, to accept referrals for the following specialist community health services provided by Northampton General Hospital (NGH); Community Paediatrics, Children’s Community Nursing, Children’s Physiotherapy and the Child and Adolescent Bereavement Service.

  Any professional in the county (for example a GP, teacher, health visitor, social worker etc) will refer using one referral form to one central place; the Referral Management Centre.

  Referrals will be screened by a clinician from Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (NHFT) or Northampton General Hospital (NGH) and then passed to the most appropriate service or services which best meet the needs of the child or young person – be that NHFT, NGH, a Specialist CAMHS response, youth counselling or youth-based group work.

  Frequently Asked Questions

  What is the Referral Management Centre (RMC)?

  In the county, Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (NHFT) established a Referral Management Centre for specialist children’s services. The RMC is based at Isebrook Hospital, Wellingborough and is staffed by a team of skilled administrators who process all urgent and non- urgent referrals for children’s specialist services.

  The RMC staff are co-located with the CAMHS Children’s Response Team and liaise closely with all other clinical teams across the county in order to co-ordinate daily clinical screening and integrated screening of referrals. The screening process is undertaken by skilled clinical practitioners and is performed in order to identify which specialist service or services can best meet the specific needs of the child or young person. The referral process is completed by RMC who ensure that all referrals are sent to the right health professionals, with the right skills the first time.

What services can I access through the RMC?

From Monday 14 September 2015 the RMC will manage referrals for the following children and young people’s services:

• Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

• Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

• Bereavement Service (NGH)

• Community Nursing (NHFT & NGH)

• Community Paediatrics (NHFT & NGH)

• Community Team for People with a Learning Disability (CTPLD)

• Continence Assessment

• Dietetics

• Emotional Wellbeing and Mental Health (including CAMHS & youth counselling)

• Looked After Children (Mental Health only – not for medicals or health assessments)

• Occupational Therapy

• Physiotherapy (NHFT & NGH)

• Speech and Language Therapy

• Specialist School Nursing

  How do I refer?

  For all referrals there will be one integrated referral form. This is available from www.nhft.nhs.uk/cyprmc alongside guidance on how to fill out the form. This form will be accepted by the RMC from 14 September 2015.

  What if I have a question?

  The main RMC telephone line is open between 9am and 5pm, Monday to Friday on 0300 1111 022. If you have any questions about process or a referral you are not sure what to do with, give them a call.

  Telephone Options:

  Option 1:

  Emotional Wellbeing and Mental Health including CAMHS and then
  Option 1: Consultation line for professionals (9.30am – 4.00pm)
  

  Option 2:

  CATCH team – North of the County only – NHFT’s team for acutely unwell children

  Option 3 

  For all other enquiries (including Northampton General Hospital Services

What is the difference between the Referral Management Centre (RMC) and the Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH)?

The MASH is the single point of referral when you have concerns for a child and are worried about their safety. Please note if you have a safeguarding concern about a child or a young person you must contact / refer to the MASH immediately. If you are sure there are no safeguarding issues but you think there may be emotional wellbeing, mental health or physical health issues – please refer to the RMC.

How does the Referral Management Centre (RMC) fit into the other pathways in Northamptonshire, for example the Early Help Offer?
A great deal of care is being taken to understand the referral pathways in Northamptonshire to make sure the RMC fits into the county’s processes and responses. NCC are heavily involved in the development of the RMC and therefore we have robust links with both MASH and Early Help colleagues to ensure there is no duplication for professionals and each system speaks to each other appropriately.

The referral form seems similar to the Early Help Assessment form that we are familiar with. Why is this? And is any information mandatory?
The updated RMC referral form has been adapted on purpose to reflect the identification of need common to the new Early Help Assessment (EHA). This is so information about presenting need can be collated if available from the family. If an EHA has already been completed simply attach this to the referral (rather than duplicate the information).

Due to the fact the referral form is for emotional wellbeing, mental health and physical health services not all the information will be mandatory or even relevant but the onus will be on the referrer to supply as much information as possible to ensure the referral is passed to the right service or services, first time.

The expectation will be if the referral is for emotional wellbeing/mental health then this information is known by the referrer (or should be known) and has been or should be gathered from the young person/family.

Can young people self-refer to the Referral Management Centre (RMC)?

Not yet. The intention is to develop this mechanism in the future but for now the process will not change dramatically from the one which is already in place. If a young person (or parent) calls the RMC, they will be given the relevant contact details for the service deemed most appropriate.
The RMC will offer to take their name and telephone details and send onto the relevant service in order for them to contact the young person. However, this is not mandatory and the decision on how they wish to proceed is with the caller.

Young People will still be able to self-refer to youth counselling agencies as they currently do.

Referral Management Centre – Contact Details

Tel: 0300 1111 022

CYP Referral Management Centre
Castle Unit, Isebrook Hospital, Irthlingborough Road, Wellingborough, NN8 1LP