Hertfordshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
as one

Transitions - Moving on from CAMHS

Workbook

Turning 18 can be daunting for someone who is using CAMHS services and it is hard to know what to expect. Together with our young people and their parents and carers we have co-produced a workbook to support you through transitions. It has key information about what to expect and can be used in your sessions with your professional to give you practical support and skills.

Click here for our PDF version, paper copies are also available in our CAMHS clinics, please speak to the professional you are seeing for more information.

Questions

We asked our young people what questions they had during this time and we have answered them below.

What does transition mean?

Transition describes the process of movement or change. There are many different types of transition -

  • You may move between teams or clinics within HPFT CAMHS
  • You may move from HPFT CAMHS to HCT Step 2 service or to the school pastoral support team
  • You may move on from mental health services altogether when you are discharged

The focus on this page however is the process of moving on from CAMHS when you turn 18 to another service such as Adult Mental Health Services (AMHS) or to discharge and self care.

 

Why does transition happen?

When you reach the age of 18, you will be considered an adult and no longer be able to use Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services. Therefore we work with you to find alternative support if it is needed.

 

What happens next during the transitions process?

The professional you are working with will help you prepare for your transition and together you will work on a Transition Care Plan. Together you will decide on some goals and objectives and work towards achieving them. The outcome of the transition will be dependent on a variety of individual factors but could include -

- Discharge from services, as you may no longer need them.

- Discharge back to your doctor or GP, who will continue to prescribe you any medication that you need.

In these situations it is really useful to take all the tools you have worked on and continue to use them at home. Additionally there are online support services such as Kooth and Young Minds that you can use if you feel you need them. We have a list of other support here.

- Transition to Adult Mental Health Services (AMHS)

For more support with this transition and information on what to expect please view our Transitions work booklet, produced with young people with a lived experience of our services.

Let us know

If you are in the process of transitioning on from CAMHS, because you are turning/have turned 18, we would appreciate if you could tell us about this experience. We value your feedback and use it to continue to develop and improve this process for other young people.

If you are a young person who is about to transition please complete the short online survey here.

If you are a young person who has recently transitioned please complete the short online survey here.

Additionally if you are the parent or carer of a young person who is in the process of transitioning, we would appreciate if you could tell us about this experience. We value your feedback and it will help us continue to develop and improve this process for other parents and carers.

If you are the parent or carer of a young person who is about to transition please complete the short online survey here.

If you are the parent or carer of a young person who has recently transitioned please complete the short online survey here. 

 

 

If you would prefer paper copies, you can print our survey's using the links below and then return the completed survey's by post to Service Experience Team, 99 Waverley Road, St Albans, AL35TL.

Young people's Pre Transition Survey

Young people's Post Transition Survey

Parent/Carer Pre Transition Survey

Parent/Carer Post Transition Survey

Thank you.