NHS AYRSHIRE & ARRAN Child & Adolescent Mental Health Services

INFORMATION LEAFLET FOR FAMILIES
CHILD AND ADOLESCENT MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES

Why are you coming
Usually a Doctor or someone else you have spoken to has been in touch with us about the difficulties you have discussed with them. Our team sees families where one or more of the children may be experiencing emotional or behavioural difficulties. This can happen for many reasons, which is why we have people working here form different professional backgrounds and experience.

Your first meeting
When families come to meet with us there are a number of different ways in which the appointment can be organised.

You will probably meet with one or two members of the team who will take some time to think with the family about what difficulties are around. Once they have gathered such information they will be in a better position to consider how they might be able to help. Sometimes we find it useful to involve more than two members of the team at the first appointment. When this is the case we make use of a one way mirror which enables some of the team to watch the appointment without being part of it. This avoids too many people being together in the one room while allowing you as a family to benefit from the views of different professionals. If your appointment has been organised to take place in this way you will always know in advance.

To enable us to be of most help to families when meet we sometimes ask to video record sessions.

When this is the case written permission is always obtained from the family and time is taken to discuss the request. Should you decide you do not want the session to be video recorded your wish will always be respected.

The first few times you attend are usually part of a process of thinking with you about the difficulties you are facing and how we might assist you to improve your situation. This will involve us discussing with you our impression but there will always be time to incorporate your views and answer any questions you may have.

We believe that both children and their families should be respected and listened to. We will endeavour to work at all times in a way which enables children to grow up in healthy environment, physically, emotionally and socially.

It is implicit in our service that respect is shown in relation to disability, religious beliefs, ethnicity and culture. When necessary interpreters will be located and made available. Please contact us prior to your appointment if you need help to get there.

The Team

The team consist of:

Consultant Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist
Clinical Nurse Specialist
Clinical Psychologist
Social Worker

Sometimes the team are able to use the services of the area team’s Child Psychotherapist and Health Visitor if that is felt to be helpful.

Although the team have different professional backgrounds, they all have specialist skills in working with children, young people and families. We sometimes have trainees working in the clinic who would be supervised by one of the above people.

The services are provided by 4 CAMHS teams from community bases located in North, South, East Ayrshire and an Adolescent Team covering Ayrshire and Arran. Our aim is to provide a quality service in a comfortable setting and we would welcome any kind of comment or complaint about the service.

Opening Times
Monday - Thursday 9-00am - 5-00pm
Friday - 9-00am - 4-30pm

If you are in distress and need an urgent response, please contact your local GP’s on call service.

Suggestions or complaints

Your comments, complaints or suggestions will be welcomed. Any concerns about your treatment should be discussed with the team member with whom you meet.

If you are still not satisfied with the response, you can take the matter up with Patient Relations and Complaints Officer, NHS Ayrshire & Arran , 1A Hunters Avenue, Ayr, or the Chief Executive, NHS Ayrshire & Arran, at the same address.

CHILD & ADOLESCENT MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES
Room 1545
AYRSHIRE CENTRAL HOSPITAL
KILWININNING ROAD
IRVINE
KA12 8SS

Telephone 01294 323316
FAX 01294 323563

The Team

Clinical Psychologist: Christina Shearer
Clinical Nurse Specialist: Eileen Rae
Occupational Therapist: Wendy McCracken
Social Worker: Maggie Clegg
Mental Health Nurse Outreach to
South Ayrshire SWD Throughcare Team: Jackie Flynn
Consultant Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist to CAMHS Teams:
Dr Eleanor Kerr 01294 323316