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This is a CAMHS specialist service that works with children and young people, under the age of 19, who are struggling with having a physical health condition
Not all children and young people who have a physical health condition will need to access the support of the Paediatric Psychology Service (PPS). This will be an option for you if your health condition is negatively affecting your mental health.
The role of the team is to support you to adjust to the changes and challenges a physical health condition can bring. If you are diagnosed with a physical health condition there can be a lot of things for you and your family to think about and to do. For example, taking medication, preparing for surgery or dealing with negative thoughts/feelings/behaviours linked to your health condition. If you are struggling with any of these, the PPS is a service that could support you and your family to identify ways to understand and cope with these challenges.
Because the Paediatric Psychology Service works with children and young people with various physical health conditions, each patient will be offered support that is designed just for them and their family.
To be treated by the Paediatric Psychology Service you will need to be under the care of and referred by a medical Consultant Paediatrician who works at one of the UHL hospitals or in the Community. You are not able to self-refer to this service. However, you can talk to your medical consultant or a trusted adult if you are struggling and they can help you to be referred.
All the teams in CAMHS are multi-disciplinary. This means that there are a wide range of specialist staff who all work with children and young people experiencing mental health difficulties.
They work with you and those who support you to create a joint plan, to help you manage your mental health and enjoy a better quality of life. The Paediatric Psychology Service will sometimes with your agreement, talk to your medical team, so that they can also help you with your goals.
The team are based at Artemis House which is on the Westcotes House site, near Leicester City Centre. They also have rooms at Westcotes Health Centre and the Leicester Royal Infirmary.
When you come to the Paediatric Psychology Service, one or more of the team will meet with you and your family for an assessment, to listen to your concerns and identify what help might be needed. Together, you will decide what the best way forward is for you and what goals you want to work on.. They may also ask you to complete some questionnaires either before or after the appointment. Your family will be invited to join in this conversation. There will not be any physical examination during this assessment or any of the follow-up PPS appointments.
By the end of the assessment, which usually takes around 1 to 1 and a half hours, a plan will be made with you. Options in your plan might include working with you individually, working with you and your family or you might join in with group work Sometimes, after the assessment, we may decide together that you do not need further work with our team and therefore we will close you. It may be, however, that we refer you to a different team or service and we may send you some resources and websites.
The person you saw at assessment will then become your Lead Professional (LP). They will continue to check in with you after this assessment to manage your care until you start treatment.
The kinds of therapies that might be offered include Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Family Therapy to help the whole family start to adjust to the changes that living with a physical health condition can bring.
Or ask your medical team if there is a charity website for your health condition that provides free, reliable information and support, for example Diabetes UK, Crohn’s and Colitis UK
Click here to check out our CAMHS created resources designed to support young people.
If you need urgent mental health support, 24/7 support is available over the phone. Call NHS 111, selecting mental health crisis option 2. This number is open 24 hours a day and is totally free and confidential. You can also text 0748 063 5199. If there is an immediate threat to life, dial 999. If you are deaf and have urgent mental health needs, you can use the NHS 111 British Sign Language service: www.signvideo.co.uk/nhs111 Please note the NHS 111 line is not an emergency service. Click here for more information.
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