Islington CAMHS Schools Team

The work that is done by CAMHS Clinicians in Schools is very varied and is developed through discussion with senior staff in each school. It can include:

• Seeing young people, parents/carers in school individually or together to help with children’s social, emotional and behavioural difficulties, especially where the difficulties are related to school

• Observing children in the school setting
• Offering groups for children and/or parents
• Screening for developmental disorders such as ADHD and Autistic Spectrum Condition
• Being part of the school’s Pastoral Care Team and attending meetings where children, young people and families with social, emotional and behavioural difficulties are discussed
• Talking to school staff and parents and carers about possible referrals to CAMHS and what to expect
• Helping communication between school and home
• Offering training to school staff
• Organising mental health screenings of whole year groups to help schools understand what the needs in the school might be
• Working closely with other professionals who are working with children and young people in school (e.g. Educational Psychologists / Social Workers / Speech and Language Therapists / Family support / Mentoring services such as Chance UK and Friendship Works)

The clinician in school could be a Clinical Psychologist, a Child and Adolescent Psychotherapist, a Family Therapist, and Educational Psychotherapist, a Counselling Psychologist, an Art Psychotherapist or other child mental health profession by training

If you need help, speak to your teacher or tutor, school SENCO, learning mentor or a member of pastoral staff. They can refer you to your school’s CAMHS clinician or get advice on the best service to help you.

If you are referred to your school clinician, they will invite you to meet with them, usually in a quiet room during school hours.

Like all CAMHS appointments, seeing your school clinician is confidential. The person responsible for referrals in school will usually know that you are being seen. But we don’t discuss your assessment or treatment with your teachers unless you and your parent/carer(s) agree. Like any CAMHS meeting, if your school clinician has a serious concern about your safety, they might share information with your parent/carer(s). Some young people do find it helpful when staff at the school know that they are having difficulties. School clinicians can talk this through with you.