CAMHS Learning Disability Team

Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is launching a new Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS), the CAMHS Learning Disability Team.

The service will accept referrals for children and young people who are:

·Aged 5 – 17 years old and have a diagnosed moderate or severe learning disability (or a significant impairment of intellectual and social adaptive functioning indicative of a moderate or severe learning disability)

·Registered with a GP in Berkshire (Bracknell, Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead, Slough, Wokingham, Reading and West Berkshire)

·And are experiencing:

A significant emotional, mental health need

Significant behaviours that challenge associated with a mental health need

The service will not accept referrals for children and young people who have:

No evidence of a learning disability ·Specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia

·A diagnosis of autism or any other neurodevelopmental disorder but no evidence of a learning disability

·A mild learning disability (for individuals who have a mild learning disability, mental health assessment and intervention would be offered through mainstream services)

·Challenging behaviours where there is no evidence these are connected to a mental health disorder or emotional distress

Referral Process

•We accept referrals from professionals, as well as parents and carers and young people themselves.

•Referrals can be made via the Berkshire Healthcare NHS Trust Children, Young People and Families Referral Service webpage: https://cypf.berkshirehealthcare.nhs.uk/referrals/

•The team will review the referral and identify if it is appropriate for the CAMHS Learning Disability Team.