Barnet Service for Children and Adolescents with Neurodevelopmental disorders (SCAN)

SCAN are a multidisciplinary team (consisting of psychiatry, clinical psychology, child psychotherapy, family therapy, counselling psychology, nursing) providing a full CAMHS provision to children and adolescents with moderate to severe neurodevelopmental difficulties and comorbid mental health problems.

Referrals are accepted when mental health problems are identified in accordance with the CAMHS referral criteria and when the child or adolescent attends one of the special schools in Barnet. Under particular circumstances referrals are also accepted from special educational units within mainstream education.

SCAN clients have chronic and life-long difficulties and will often be re-referred through-childhood, or they require long term monitoring of medication, as their difficulties are generally linked to their disabilities. The majority of clients receive a general initial assessment, although some may require complex specialist diagnostic assessments involving several clinicians and other services, for example a paediatrician.

A range of short or long term treatments are offered as would be expected from a multidisciplinary team. However, all assessment and treatment work is increased in complexity due to the comorbid neurodevelopmental difficulties and mental health problems, requiring more resources to assess, diagnose, treat and liaise with the many professionals involved with the client and their family. A great deal of anxiety and risk surround our client group and the team has to be able to respond quickly and flexibly to safely support families in need.

SCAN offer consultation and joint assessments to other CAMHS team in Barnet and foster good links with the special schools, Children with Disabilities Service, the voluntary sector and the community paediatricians. Alongside this assessment and treatment we offer support to parents who are frequently suffering from the stress and low mood that can come with parenting a child with a mental health problem and a major disability.