We are sorry that many children and young people are having to wait longer for an appointment than we would like. We do want to assure you that we are working very hard to cut the amount of time families are waiting and we are starting to see waiting times go down in some services, however, for many of our services, currently there is a delay. We will offer an appointment as soon as we can.
If you feel things are getting worse , or if at any time you need to speak to us urgently, we have an on-call clinician available every day between 9am and 5pm on 03300 245 321. Outside of these hours if you urgently need to speak to us please contact our Emergency Duty Team on 0300 555 5000.
You can access support while you are waiting and our website has many helpful bitesize video’s covering a range of topics, we also provide support and advice in our Facebook Groups and you may find the following websites useful while waiting for the appointment:
Young Devon offer a range of opportunities for young people, from counselling, to participation groups and self-improvement programmes: www.youngdevon.org Young Devon also support an online counselling service.
Kooth (available 12noon-10pm every day and provide not only safe, anonymous online counselling, but also forums and online magazines where young people can inspire other and be inspired): https://kooth.com
Whilst waiting for an appointment with our service you may also find that the school nurse/counsellor or pastoral support services within your educational placement may be able to offer interim support, along with the following websites:
- https://kooth.com
- http://www.moodjuice.scot.nhs.uk
- http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/stress-anxiety-depression/pages/low-mood-stress-anxiety.aspx
- https://www.healthlinkbc.ca/health-topics/anxiety
- https://www.anxietycanada.com/mindshift-groups
The last website is a link for MindShift which is a free App designed to help young people develop strategies to manage anxiety.
You may also like to visit the YoungMinds website which has information and self-help guidance on improving the emotional wellbeing and mental health of children and young people. The web address is www.youngminds.org.uk.
There is also a new website for parents on children’s mental health: www.happymaps.co.uk.
We will update our website as we progress with tackling waiting lists and if you have been referred for a service we will update you regularly.
Autism Spectrum Assessment Service
The Autism Spectrum Assessment Service provides diagnosis and help for children and young people up to 18 years of age suspected of being on the Autism Spectrum. Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a condition that affects social interaction, communication, interests and behaviour. We’ll help to identify the difficulties children and young people referred to us face and work with them and their families and carers to ease those difficulties.
Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS)
The Devon Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) provide help for children and young people who may be experiencing problems with their emotional or psychological wellbeing or mental health.
Children in Care Service
The term ‘looked after children and young people’ is generally used to mean those ‘looked after’ by the Local Authority. This includes children and young people who are subject to a care order; those temporarily classed as looked after on a planned basis for short breaks or respite care, and ‘accommodated’ children and young people who are looked after on a voluntary basis at the request of, or by agreement with, their parents.
Community Children’s Nursing Service
The Community Children’s Nursing Service supports children with a wide range of complex health conditions who require expert and specific nursing advice and support.
Devon’s Family Information Service for Children with Additional Needs (SIGNPOSTplus)
SIGNPOSTplus (previously DISCplus) is a service which provides information and advice to all families of children with additional needs in Devon. The service is also available to any professional working with families or directly with children.
Devon Early Years Complex Needs Service
The Early Years Complex Needs Service (EYCN) service provides equitable services to ensure that preschool children with significant and complex needs and disabilities have their educational needs met at home, within the Early Years settings and in their transition to statutory schooling, where appropriate. Children & Family Health Devon provides the Early Years Complex Needs Service (EYCN) service will, on behalf of Devon County Council.
Disabled Children’s Service (Devon County Council)
This service is provided by Devon County Council.
Learning Disability Team
We are a specialist team of Learning Disability Nurses and child Learning Disability Clinical Psychologists. We provide a community Learning Disability service providing advice and support to children, young people, and parents/carers as well as to healthcare and education professionals. Children & Family Health Devon provides the NHS Learning Disability service across Devon.
Mental Health Support Team in Schools
The Mental Health Support Team in Schools (MHST) is a new NHS service commissioned to work with a number of schools across Devon and Torbay. We offer early intervention to help children and young people with their mental health and emotional wellbeing.
Occupational Therapy
The Children’s Occupational Therapy service specialises in working with children and young people from birth to 18 years. We support children and young people with physical, sensory, developmental, cognitive and social needs that affect their functional abilities and impact on their daily life. Children & Family Health Devon provides the NHS Children’s Occupational Therapy service in North, South and Eastern Devon. Our occupational therapists also assess and make recommendations for the provision of adaptations and equipment on behalf of Devon County Council.
Palliative Care
The ICS Palliative Care service provides a responsive and high standard of nursing care and support for children, young people with life limiting and life threatening conditions across Devon.
Public Health Nursing
The Public Health Nursing Service provide a Health Visiting and School Nursing service across Devon. We deliver child and family health services, provide ongoing additional services for vulnerable children and families and contribute to multidisciplinary services in safeguarding and protecting children.
Rehabilitation Officers for Visually Impaired Children (ROVIC)
A rehabilitation officer for visually impaired children (ROVIC) is qualified and proficient in their practice to assess, advise, create and deliver training programmes for babies, children and young people (0-18 years), who have significant visual difficulties impacting on how they reach and develop skills.
Specialist Children’s Assessment Centres (SCAC)
Our Specialist Children’s Assessment Centres (SCAC) provide specialist assessment and intervention for children aged 0 – 5 years with significant developmental difficulties. The multi-disciplinary team works with families and community services to provide services which are tailored to individual children’s needs both in the centres and in the community.
Specialist School Nurses
The Special School Nurse Service provides a responsive and high standard of nursing care for children with complex health needs who attend special schools across Devon.
Speech and Language Therapy
Speech and Language Therapists provide support and assistance to children and young people who are experiencing difficulties with speech, language, communication and with feeding and swallowing (also called Dysphagia). The team is made up of Speech and Language Therapists and Speech and Language Therapy Assistants.
