Early Intervention (EI)

What do we do

The service is delivered alongside the single point of access and sits in between CAMHS Specialist Services (Tier 3) and Tier 2 community targeted mental health services.

It seeks to support young people in developing resilience and preparing for adulthood. This will include support and signposting to any other relevant services. In most cases we still expect a lower-level mental health support service to have been tried first before coming to CAMHS. The service offers a medium-term intervention (of up to 10 sessions).

CAMHS Early Intervention service is key in seeking to ensure that children, young people and their carers, who do not meet the criteria for other mental health services, have access to a service that can assess their needs and deliver interventions, if required.

This is dependent on the presenting difficulties and in some cases a mental health intervention may not be the primary need. Where this is the case, we will try to give advice and guidance.

Our team

The team is staffed by a multi-disciplinary team of mental health professionals, a clinical lead, team manager and administrators.

New for 2024!

We are pleased to announce that we are launching a parenting workshop for Families who would like to learn more about self-harm (FLASH).

Please note that Referrals can be received by professionals only (for example GP, social worker, teacher).

Families learning about self-harm (FLASH)

Who is FLASH for?

Any adult who has shared responsibility for bringing up a child can attend the group, including stepparents, grandparents and childminders. We welcome parents on their own or with their partners or adult family member.

What does the course cover?

This a 10-week course which aims to create better communication and personal relationships between parent/carers and young people. FLASH allows parents the opportunity to discuss the problem with people who understand and learn how to manage the concerns within your home.

It will include:

  • exploring what self-harm is, what the risks are and what is the function of self-harm
  • listening and self-esteem enabling skills
    Managing self-harm within the family environment
  • how self-harm impacts on parenting and ways to manage under stressful circumstances
  • coping strategies for parents and carers

When and where?

Boardroom
Yeovil District Hospital
Yeovil
BA21 4AT

Weekly, 9:30am to midday
Tuesday 23 April to Tuesday 25 June
Monday 2 September to Monday 4 November

Horizon Centre
Swingbridge
Bathpool
Taunton
TA2 8BY

Weekly, 11:30am to 2pm
Friday 19 April to Friday 28 June
Friday 6 September to Tuesday 8 October

Education Room at Outpatients
Priory Medical Centre
Wells
BA5 1XJ

Weekly, 9:30am to midday
Monday 22 January to Monday 25 March
Monday 1 July to Monday 2 September

How to refer

To refer a parent/carer for this workshop, please share this information with them and complete the FLASH workshop referral form.

Please note this is a separate process to the normal CAMHS Referrals. By completing the referral form you are referring the parent/carers to the workshop only.

Please email the form to camhsspa@somersetft.nhs.uk

If you would like to ask a question, please ring CAMHS on 0300 124 5012.

These sessions are for parents and carers only – we cannot accommodate children and young people.

Referral form

Information for Young People and Families
Why have I been referred to this service and what can I expect?

You can expect to be invited to meet with us, which can happen face-to-face, via telephone or virtually.

You will be offered up to 10 sessions to work on the goals you have defined, alongside the practitioners.

To support your care plan and future goals, we might also have meetings with partners across health, education and social care.

Information for Professionals
Who can refer and how to do it?

Referrals can be made to the Single Point of Access for children or young people who present with moderate mental health or emotional health difficulties by a GP or other professional that includes:

  • Self harm or suicidal ideation but not intent.
  • Phobias – having a moderate impact on functioning, that can be managed at a community level but can escalated to Specialist CAMHS if required.
  • Anxiety related presentations that are over and above what is deemed usual for the young person and that require a mental health intervention (for example not a reaction to a social, environmental, sensory or other unmet need that has not been addressed).
  • Moderate low mood that do not meet the threshold for a specialist CAMHS service.
What questions need to be considered when making a referral?
  • Has a tier 2 intervention or early intervention been tried already? (for example Young Somerset, counselling, MHST, PFSA)
  • Is this a reaction to something that needs another support service? (for example bereavement, family intervention, social care)