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SEMH: Specialist Guidance

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Specialist Guidance

Whilst in most situations the Ordinary Available Provision (OAP) will be sufficient to support children’s social, emotional and mental health needs, specialist guidance may be useful.

  • Anxious or depressive behaviour persists for six months despite OAP.
  • Criminal behaviour e.g., fire-setting.
  • Critical incidents.
  • Domestic abuse.
  • Emerging or established difficulties with eating.
  • Emotional Based School Avoidance over a prolonged period.
  • Safeguarding concerns.
  • Self-harm.
  • Sexualised behaviour.
  • Significant difficulties with emotions which consistently require adult supervision throughout the day.
  • Suicidal ideation.
  • Suspected substance misuse.
  • Young carers.

Mental Health referrals (previously to CAMH) are now made through YOUnited.

Counselling may be available through Centre 33.

Mental Health Support Teams (where available) or Emotional Health and Well-being Services (EHWBS). Mental Health Support teams are available in some schools and their practitioners are able to support children and young people with mild to moderate mental health difficulties. The EHWBS provide direct support to professionals supporting children with mental health difficulties, as well as termly briefing and staff well-being support.

The Cogwheel Trust provides counselling support for adults and young people in Cambridge and the surrounding areas. Parents can refer their child to the service which is based in Cambridge. The Cogwheel Trust is a charity, and it asks for donations towards appointments based on income. To find out more visit their website or call 01223 464385.

Kooth is also a free, safe, anonymous support which offers a range of support for Secondary school children in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.

Providers of Therapeutic support and counselling can be found on the Cambridgeshire Alternative Provision directory.

Winston’s Wish support grieving children after a bereavement they offer a helpline for parents/carers and professionals, plus a section for schools. They have lots of resources including lesson plans, policies and school strategy documents.

STARS in Cambridge offer 1:1 pre- and post-bereavement counselling support to children and young people up to the age of 25 years old, who live in Cambridgeshire. Referrals can be made by young people over 16 years of age or they can ask parents, or any professional involved in their care to refer them.

Sudden and unexpected events which cause trauma within a school community.

Follow the Critical Incident policy in your school or setting. The Educational Psychology service may be able to offer advice and support such as the Cambridgeshire Critical Incident Guidance [Size: 177 KB, File: PDF].

CAMH Eating Disorder Services are specialists in child and adolescent mental health who support children and young people up to the age of 18 years old experiencing moderate to severe eating disorders. The service accepts referrals from professionals via the YOUnited website. You can also telephone 01480 428115 or email acccesscamnhs@nhs.net

Referrals should include information on recent physical observations.

General information about Cambridgeshire school attendance. You may want to contact your school or setting Education Welfare Officer for advice.

The SEND District Team Access & Inclusion Coordinator can be contacted as follows:

It may be appropriate to seek support from SEND Services to discuss individual children or young people. Referrals can be made through school’s link planning meetings or by contacting your link SEND 0-25 professionals.

Follow your school or setting safeguarding policy: ensure that your concerns are recorded according to your policy and that a designated person has been informed. Information about safeguarding in Cambridgeshire is available.

Professionals can report a safeguarding concern on the Joint Peterborough and Cambridgeshire Safeguarding website. There is also full supporting guidance, risk assessment tools and threshold information on the website.

Consider a referral to Cambridgeshire Sexual Behaviour Service. The Sexual Behaviour Service works with children and young people (age 5 to 19 years old) exhibiting sexualised or sexually harmful behaviour that is causing concern and falls outside behaviour considered developmentally appropriate for a child or young person of that age. Schools and settings can make a referral.

Contact: 01223 703591 or paul.demassimi@cambridgeshire.gov.uk

Read Child Sexual Behaviour Assessment Tool [Size: 526 KB, File: PDF] in conjunction with the relevant virtual briefing.

If emotions consistently require adult supervision throughout the day. Contact your link specialist teacher or EP for advice.

  • PAPYRUS has developed a guide to suicide prevention, intervention and postvention in schools and colleges, aimed specifically at teachers.
  • Keep Your Head have a page with information about suicide awareness.
  • Centre 33 offers counselling for children and young people.
  • Mental Health referrals (previously to CAMH) are now made through YOUnited.
  • Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Safeguarding Partnership Board have information for professionals.

CASUS provides information, support, and specialist treatment for young people under eighteen years of age, living in Cambridgeshire, to address alcohol and or drug use. Confidential information and support can also be provided to the families of these young people. The referral form can be accessed under the CAMHS banner.

Keep Your Head information for child or young person [Size: 1,374 KB, File: PDF].

CASUS welcomes the opportunity to discuss potential referrals before the completion of formal documentation. Please call the team on 01480 445316.

Centre 33 works closely with schools across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough to ensure that support is in place for young carers.

Glossary

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