Wandsworth ACCESS Child and Youth Mental Health is a single point of referral providing access to help for children and young people in Wandsworth up to the age of 18 years, who may be experiencing psychological and mental health difficulties.
The service is made up of experienced mental health professionals and aims to be responsive and accessible to families, as well as those professionals who are working with, or are concerned about a child or young person. Please note - we take routine and urgent referrals but are not an emergency service. If there are any significant risks regarding children and young people that require an urgent response, it is advised to attend local accident and emergency (A&E) or contact local safeguarding services.
The service will accept referrals from GPs, schools, and other professionals working with children and young people:
of children and young people up to their 18th birthday
who are registered with a Wandsworth GP and
who are experiencing psychological and mental health difficulties
who require screening for ADHD (over 11 yrs) and/or ASD (over 8 yrs)
We accept self referrals from young people aged 16 and 17 years
The principles of the Service are to offer each referred child or young person a service through carrying out an assessment and conversations with those who know the child or young person best such as parents/carers. This Service may offer face to face appointments in Springfield Hospital as well as e-consultations by video or telephone.
In consultation with families and young people, clinicians in ACCESS may refer and signpost to professionals in other services that are provided in the community by a range of other providers for further interventions and support if needed. These may include services within the NHS, local authority and the voluntary sector.
Some young people with more severe mental health difficulties may be referred for specialist treatment with Wandsworth Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services
Families may be offered a Telephone Consultation or a Family Consultation meeting with the Brief Family Consultancy Service or intervention with Talking Families to develop their ideas or a plan of action around a specific difficulty or dilemma.