0–18 Mental Health Team (CAMHS in Primary Care)

About the Service

The 0–18 Mental Health Team is part of the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS), delivered by South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust. The team works closely with GPs and practice staff across The Mast PCN to offer support to children and young people presenting with new or first-time mental health concerns.

By embedding mental health practitioners in local primary care, we aim to reduce waiting times, improve outcomes, and ensure young people get the right support, at the right time.

Our Aims

• Social inclusion – ensuring all young people feel seen, valued, and able to engage
• Recovery focus – supporting healing, empowerment and resilience
• Self-care skills – helping CYP manage their own physical and emotional wellbeing
• Improved engagement – encouraging participation and interaction
• Better health – improving mental and physical wellbeing for young people in our communities

What Support Can We Offer?

Our mental health practitioners work flexibly to meet each young person’s needs, offering:

• Support with daily living and social skills
• Psychological input – brief therapeutic interventions and mental health advice
• Liaison and joint working with schools, families, and social care professionals
• Referrals or signposting to more specialist services where appropriate
• Advice and guidance to young people, families, and GP practice staff

Conditions and Concerns We Can Support

This service supports children and young people aged 0–18 who are experiencing:

• General or social anxiety
• Low mood or early signs of depression
• Attachment difficulties
• Bereavement (after 6 months)
• Obsessive-compulsive symptoms (OCD)
• Phobias
• Eating concerns (e.g. ARFID – Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder)
• Self-harm (first episode)
• Suicidal thoughts (first episode, where safe to manage in primary care)
• Hearing voices

Note: If a young person has more complex needs or is in crisis, the team will support access to specialist CAMHS or other appropriate service

How It Works

• GPs or practice staff refer directly to the PCN-based 0–18 Mental Health Practitioner
• An initial assessment is carried out in a timely way
• A care plan is agreed – this may include short-term support or a referral onward if needed
• The practitioner works in close contact with the young person’s GP, family, and (where relevant) school
• All care is logged in both GP and CAMHS clinical systems