Children and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) are made up of specialist teams offering assessment and treatment to children and young people up to age 18 who have emotional, behavioural or mental health problems.
Looked after and adopted children
Who we are
We are a team of clinical psychologists, occupational therapists, child psychotherapists, art psychotherapists and mental health nurses. We work across West Sussex and are based in Shoreham-by-Sea.
Who do we see?
We support children who are being looked after or who have been adopted in West Sussex who are experiencing complex emotional and psychological difficulties.
We work with children and young people aged 0-18 who are:
- Looked after by West Sussex Local Authority and are in permanent foster placements or who have a plan for permanence
- Children and young people who have been adopted (where West Sussex has responsibility)
- Children and young people aged 16 -21 who are leaving care (aged 16-21)
- Children and young people in West Sussex residential homes (Seaside and Teasel Close).
What do we do?
Consultation service
We recognise that young people, their families and carers are often part of a large network. Our team of psychological therapists provide consultation and advice to this network. We work closely with foster carers, adoptive parents, residential workers, social workers, leaving care workers, and schools. We’ll come to a shared understanding about how to best support the emotional needs of children or young people who are adopted or are in care.
Therapy service
We provide individual, dyadic (carer and child together), family, and group therapy, where this is assessed as needed. We also provide herapeutic parenting groups for carers and training for professionals.
Making a referral
We accept referrals from children's social workers through the Therapeutic Access Point (TAP) using a form on Mosaic. Enquires should be sent to TAPadmin@westsussex.gov.uk. Within four weeks of receiving a referral we will invite the referrer and the network to attend a consultation meeting.
Confidentiality
Information discussed within sessions is treated as confidential. However, if we are concerned about the safety of a young person or anyone else, we will share this information with other professionals as part of the Child Protection & Safeguarding Policy. If this is the case we will always try to inform those involved about how we are proceeding.
Participation - your voice
We welcome your feedback of your experience of the service you have received. You can do this in a number of ways. At the end of a piece of work you will be asked to fill in a questionnaire and your therapist will also ask you for your views about your experience. In our waiting area at Shoreham we also have feedback postcards for you to fill in. We value your thoughts on what works, what doesn't work and what would work better.
Where can you find us?
CAMHS LAAC Team
Carters Lane House
41 Brunswick Road
Shoreham-by-Sea
West Sussex
BN43 5WA
Reception: 01273 467930 (Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm).
If you are concerned about a child or young person outside of these hours, please call:
Social Services Emergency out of hours: 0330 222 6664
Mental Health Helpline: 0300 5000 101
Parking information
We are located next to Shoreham-by-Sea train station. There is no parking available on site, however parking is available on the local side streets.
Further information for young people
If you are a young person and would like to find out more information about CAMHS, please have a look at the MY CAMHS Choices website. The website features lots of video interviews with young people and professionals answering some of the questions you might have about CAMHS.
Go to www.mycamhschoices.org now to find out more.
Other useful websites
