Waiting times
At Children and Family Health Devon (CFHD), we know that waiting for an appointment or assessment can be difficult. We want to help you understand why waiting times can vary and what happens after a referral is made.
Why waiting times are different
Not all children and young people are waiting for the same thing.
CFHD supports children and young people with a wide range of needs, and each service, or pathway, offers different types of support.
Some children may need an assessment, while others are waiting for ongoing therapy, treatment, or advice. The level of need and the type of help required can affect how long someone waits.
How we review referrals (the triage process)
When we receive a referral, a qualified professional will review the information carefully. This is called triage.
During triage, the professional looks at:
- The information provided in the referral.
- The child or young person’s needs.
- Any risks or urgent concerns.
They then decide what level of support is needed and how quickly it should be offered. This helps us make sure that children and young people who need help most urgently are seen as soon as possible.
What happens next
After triage, families are added to the appropriate waiting list for the service that best meets their needs.
Each service supports different needs, so waiting times may vary between pathways.
We regularly review our waiting lists to make sure we are prioritising children and young people safely and fairly.
What can I do if I need help whilst I’m waiting?
Whilst you’re waiting our resources and self-help tools may be useful. These can include CFHD advice and videos, and local and national support organisations.
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 out of hours number: 0300 555 5000.
Young People: 24/7 support
If you are under 18, you can contact Torbay and Devon Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) for mental health support and advice:
03300 245 321 between 8am-5pm
0300 555 5000 out of hours
First response: 24/7 helpline
If you are experiencing mental health distress or worries about someone else’s emotional state, support is available from our First Response Service:
0808 196 8708
Kooth, Digital Support
Online mental wellbeing community. Safe, anonymous support free to people under 18: www.kooth.com
Urgent Help: 24/7 support:
If you are at risk of causing harm to yourself, call 999
Childline 0800 1111
Samaritans 24/7 on 116 123