COMING SOON! Single point of referral for emotional wellbeing and mental health services for children and young people – for all professionals

Referral Management Centre Expansion

In the county, Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (NHFT) has established a Referral Management Centre (RMC) for specialist children’s services including the triage and assessment of all specialist CAMHS referrals.

We are excited to announce that from September 2015 we will be extending the remit of this central point of contact to include referrals for all emotional wellbeing and mental health issues affecting children and young people. This means that any professional in the county, such as GP, teacher, health visitor, social worker etc will make all referrals to one central place in the RMC.

Referrals will be screened by a clinician and then passed to the most appropriate service that can best meet the needs of the child or young person – be that a specialist CAMHS response, youth counselling, sleep service or youth-based group work – and you as a referrer will be informed of the onward referral.

Frequently Asked Questions How do I refer?

For all referrals there will be one integrated referral form. This will be made available over the Summer.

What if I have a question?

Through the RMC, CAMHS operate a consultation line for professionals between 9.30am and 4.00pm, Monday to Friday on 0300 1111 022. If you have any questions about process or about a case you are not sure what to do with, give them a call.

What is the difference between the RMC and the 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 are emotional wellbeing or mental health issues – then that is when to refer to the RMC.

More information will be available after the summer holidays so watch this space!