Supporting CYPs and families whilst they’re waiting for a service

Hertfordshire’s Children and Young People’s Mental Health Services* (Herts CYPMHS) encourage children and young people to access support for their emotional wellbeing and mental health early - as soon as their needs emerge. Herts CYPMHS system has made significant investment into increasing early help services in order to support this.

As a result, more children and young people are accessing help now than in previous years and whilst there is a wide range of support available for them, some will experience waiting times. There are support services with open access and no waiting times that we encourage children, young people and families to utilise whilst waiting e.g. digital support services with an instant chat function and self-help resources (With Youth (for ages  5-18) including Lumi Nova (for ages 7-12) and The Sandbox (for ages 10-25).

Herts CYPMHS recognise that waiting for a service can be an uncertain and difficult time. They are listening to feedback and striving to provide children, young people and families with clear expectations, communication and support whilst they are waiting, by providing them with information about:

• What the service they are waiting for offers and what to expect.
• Risk assessments and how to get in touch if the situation changes and/or if they have any concerns in between contacts.
• Local resources and services available to help them whilst they are waiting e.g. the early help digital support services with instant chat and self-help resources (With Youth/Lumi Nova and The Sandbox), or the Herts Haven emotional wellbeing drop-in cafes, or the Mental Health Support Teams in Schools (MHSTs). Details of all these early help services and more commissioned services are on the Just Talk Herts website at: www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/youthmentalhealth
• Other resources such as: YoungMinds and Anna Freud
• Who to call in a mental health crisis situation including HPFT’s 24/7 freephone helpline (SPA): 0800 6444 101/NHS 111 or Samaritans freephone: 116 123, 24 hours a day, every day for any age.

Herts CYPMHS system partners will continue adapting and developing their support whilst waiting, in response to the feedback and suggestions they receive from children, young people and families.

*Hertfordshire’s Children and Young People’s Mental Health Services (Herts CYPMHS) system includes commissioned mental health and emotional wellbeing services accessible for all children and young people in Hertfordshire.