A Young Person's Guide to an Initial Assessment

• 60 - 90- minute session
• Help us to get to know each other and to understand the support you may need
• We will meet with you in a private space within your educational setting
• You can  choose to attend alone or with a parent/carer or family member.
  
  
  

We require parental consent for all young people under the age of 16 years old before we meet at assessment. Your practitioner will discuss this with you and your parent/carer on the phone to gather information about you and will provide the necessary forms.

If you are 16+ you can consent for yourself without parental consent or knowledge. We will ask for your permission to share relevant information with parents/carers about your care.

We may need to share information without your consent if we have concerns in relation to your safety or the safety of others. We will always try to discuss this with you first before passing information on, this may include parent/carers, local agencies or your educational setting safeguarding team.

At the start if the meeting, we will create an agenda together to ensure you will be given the opportunity to discuss what is important to you/your child, this will include:

• Confidentiality
• Information sharing
• Information that helps us to get to know you and your current challenges
• Your strengths
• Your support needs
• Your support options
• Goals you wish to achieve from your support
• Your safety
  
  

If you wish to access support, please speak to your school or college’s Designated Mental Health Lead (DMHL) or another trusted staff member.
The DMHL can then make a referral to our service or signpost you to appropriate support.

Speak to the Designated Mental Health Lead (DMHL) at your school/college who can refer you to our service.

Or  download the information leaflet fill in your details on the final page and hand this to a trusted member of staff who will pass this onto the DMHL.

The Mental Health Support Team is not an emergency service and is unable to provide urgent or crisis care. If a child or young person is in crisis, you should:

• Call Freephone 0800 6444 101 (Single Point of Access (SPA) 24/7 Mental Health Helpline)
• NHS 111 and select option 2 for mental health service
• If they are seriously ill or injured, dial 999 for the emergency services or attend A&E