CAMHS Learning Disability team
The Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service Learning Disability team. Who the service is for and how to access help.
The Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service Learning Disability team
(CAMHS LD)
The Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service Learning Disability team (CAMHS LD) offers specialist psychological, emotional and behavioural support for children with a learning disability and their families. The team is based at both The Aldrington Centre, Hove and Seaside View Child Development Centre, Brighton General Hospital. Both sites are wheelchair accessible.
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Who can use CAMHS LD services? - How does the CAMHS LD service work?
- How do you get a referral to CAMHS LD?
- Contact CAMHS LD
Who is the CAMHS LD service for?
The CAMHS LD service is for children and young people aged 0-19 who have a learning disability; where there is concern about their emotional wellbeing, mental health, or there is difficulty managing their behaviour.
Children and young people with a learning disability are more likely to develop emotional and behavioural problems. Diagnosing and treating their problems is often complicated by the way symptoms show themselves or by difficulties in communication.Our team offers specialist assessment, support and advice to thinking about the particular emotional and behavioural needs of children with a learning disability.
The family
Having a disabled child in the family can present new challenges, as well as put greater pressure on parents/carers, siblings and family relationships. Often families of disabled children welcome the opportunity to receive emotional support, either as individuals or as families, to maximise their strengths and resilience and develop more helpful ways of interacting and supporting family members.
How does the CAMHS LD Service work?
Our team
The team is made up of a number of specialist learning disability and mental health professionals including: consultant child and adolescent psychiatrist; clinical psychologists; nurses and learning disability practitioners; counsellors for parents and a social worker/family therapist .The team is part of the Integrated Child Development and Disability Service at Seaside View and is a partnership between Brighton & Hove City Council, Sussex Community NHS and Sussex Partnership Federation Trusts.
What you can expect
We will arrange to meet with you within 4 weeks of receiving a referral. If you have had support from us before, then we will contact you within 7 days of a re-referral.
At your first appointment we will complete an Assessment of your child and family’s needs, and draw up an Initial Care Plan with you.
We work collaboratively with families and professionals, to assess and help them and their children in the community, at home, or at school. We offer both short and longer term input and will discuss an ending plan with you.
How can we help?
After initial assessment, we may offer one or a combination of the following:
- Assessments and behaviour interventions
- Advice regarding a child’s daily routine and structure
- Ensuring consistency of approach across settings
- Regular review and support for carers implementing programmes
- Regular Team Around the Child (TAC) meetings for complex cases
- Skills training for a child
- Support for parents regarding their child’s disability and behaviour
- Individual supportive therapy for young people
- Referral for specialist, specific psychotherapies for example art or play psychotherapy.
- Counselling for parents/carers
- Family and group therapy
- Support/consultation for residential services, schools, and other agencies
- Mental health monitoring
- Medication for diagnosed psychiatric conditions and monitoring of this.
- Referral on for cognitive/ Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) / Autistic Spectrum Condition (ASC) / sensory needs assessments.
How to get a referral to CAMHS LD
Anyone can contact us to make a referral, including parent carers and young people themselves.
Contact CAMHS LD
All referrals for CAMHS LD should be sent in writing to the team’s administrator at:
CAMHS
The Aldrington Centre
35 New Church Road
Hove
BN3 4AG
If you have any questions please call us on (01273) 718680
Find out more about the mainstream CAMHS service and Community CAMHS