Wigan CAMHS Mental Health Support Team (MHST)

Our team of low-intensity practitioners consist of EMHPs (Education Mental Health Practitioners) and CYWPs (Children and young People’s Well-being Practitioners), some of whom are currently training. Each low-intensity practitioner is able to provide interventions focussing on:

• Worry (Generalised Anxiety)
• Specific Phobias
• Low mood
• Sleep Problems
• Parenting for anxiety (under 12s)
• Parenting for behaviour (under 9s)

Each brief intervention consists of roughly 6-8 sessions, lasting 45 minutes to 1 hour.

The MHST is not an emergency service. If you have an immediate concern for the safety or well-being of a child at your school, please follow appropriate crisis pathways.

The service does not provide evidence-based interventions for children who are at a very high risk or those who present with some complex mental health disorders. We are happy to discuss these cases with you and provide you with advice.

How do I refer a child or young person for evidence-based intervention?

If you are a MHST school and you would like to refer a child for brief intervention, please use the following process:

• Request consent from the young person and their parent for the referral to be made
• Complete an RCADS questionnaire with the young person and parent
• Complete a referral and consent form by downloading here: Wigan MHST Referral Form for School
• Send the completed form to wiganmhst@gmmh.nhs.uk

What happens after I refer a child for evidence-based intervention?

• Once you have submitted a referral, the following process will occur:
• You will be contacted by a MHST practitioner for a ‘School Consultation’ (we aim to complete this within 14 days)
• We will then contact the parent to complete a ‘Parent Consultation’
• If, at this point, the MHST decide that the child may be suitable for brief intervention, we will organise an initial assessment with the child.
• If, after the assessment, we decide that the child is suitable for brief intervention, we will schedule 6-8 sessions. These can be delivered in school, over MS Teams, or at Wigan CAMHS.

(If we decide that our interventions would not be suitable, we will give advice or offer signposting to an alternative service)

How do I refer a young person for evidence-based intervention?

A referral can be made by the designated mental health lead or their deputies at the young person’s college. This referral will help determine young person’s suitability to access the MHST offer and providing valuable support for their well-being.

• Complete an RCADS questionnaire with the young person
• Complete a referral  form by downloading referral form for College here: Wigan MHST Referral Form for College
• Send the completed form and RCADS to wiganmhst@gmmh.nhs.uk

What happens after I refer a young person for evidence-based intervention?

• Once a referral has been submitted by college, the following process will occur:
• Referral will be discussed in the MHST weekly referral meeting.
• If, at this point, the MHST decide that the young person may be suitable for brief intervention, we will organise an initial assessment with the young person.
• If, after the assessment, we decide that the young person is suitable for brief intervention, we will schedule 6-8 sessions. These can be delivered in college, over MS Teams, or at Wigan CAMHS.

(If we decide that our interventions would not be suitable, we will give advice or offer signposting to an alternative service)