What is CAMHS ? How Can They Help ?

[ryansmum2]

hi All

 

please can you help - ive heard you all talking about CAMHS ...

 

please can you tell me :

 

Who they are ?

 

How can they Help ?

 

My son is 8ys and has Aspergers (recent DX) he only gets 1 hour per week 1 to 1 in school - which i dont think is enough

could CAMHS help ?

He can hardly write , spelling is almost a no- go area, and is only on reading level 4 - roughly age 5-6yrs normally.

Last year his one of his IEP tasks were to be able to WRITE HIS NAME - he was 7 then ??

He cannot go to no.2 toilet on his own - he needs help to clean himself !

He also suffers with Toe Walking to such a sever degree that he has to have Physo thereapy weekly and special shoes to wear.

 

I just feel like im getting knowhere FAST - can anyone help ?

 

thx mel xx

[Karen A]

Hi.CAMHS is child and adolescent mental health service.Psychiatric service for children and teenagers and also support parents.

Different health trusts operate different systems for supporting children with Asperger's syndrome.In our area CAMHS provide support.However sometimes it is the children with a disability team or a paediatrician.CAMHS tend to help with behavioural or emotional /mental health issues rather than educational issues unless they are already involved with a family.It may be that you might make progress faster by pushing education to put in more appropriate levels of support.Perhaps talk to the SENCO.If CAMHS are not already involved it may be a very lengthy process to ask for a referal in order to address educational issues.Karen.

[Diane]

Hi,

 

Karen is right when she says that CAMHS vary from area to area. Our CAMHS do run a limited ASD service and also support with behavioural/emotional and mental health issues.

 

I have had excellent support from them with my DS and still do. I think you will find others on this forum who have not been as fortunate.

 

If it is just educational I would advise asking school to contact the advisory teacher to come in and do an assement of need. If the assessment does throw anything up then she should tell school what to do and if any further help is needed from other professionals.

 

I think you should speak to your GP about the other problems your son is experiencing and see what he advises. He may refer you to a paediatrician who could help you.

[JsMum]

I would write down all your concerns over your sons education, what he recieves now and how long, how many IEPs has he had, look throw them, are any repeated, has he made any progress or is he severely struggling, if so identify each area, so socially, emotionally, learning, and add to the fact your son has AS, then write down what it is you think your son should have, how many hours of support do you feel he realistically requires, especially the toileting.

 

Write down any provisions you feel he should be accessing, write down what he already recieves and that you feel your son really required more support, send it to your local education special educational needs department, copy the letter and send it to your GP, your HT, and the Schools SENCO as well as the schools govening body who looks over SENs.

 

It may be that the support needs to come from education rather than cahms, it may be felt that after an assessment from the educational psychologist she/he may recommend referring him to CAHMS.

 

Its a very tricky system, for many parents you have to fight to get what your child needs.

 

JsMum

 

Edited November 12, 2008 by JsMum

[ryansmum2]

hi

 

many thanks for your answers - Jsmum, thats for the advice , i will do just that,

 

i'll let you know how i get on

 

thanks mel xx

[peaches]

Im no expert, but I would clarify what CAMHS could do for you by asking either your GP or whoever diagnosed him, as it seems to differ by area.

 

Where I live, we have been referred to CAMHS for diagnosis, they have a ASD/ADHD/AS clinic run by two specialists in that area. But until our appointments come up for the latter clinic, we are being seen in the "general" clinic by a non specialist clinical psychologist who has taken our history and is giving us little bits of advice on how to manage and support him at home.

 

He has been seen by an Educational Psychologist at school and this educational psychologist is wanting the same specialists who are involved in CAMHS to contribute to his statutory assessment, so he doesnt have to attend another hospital (which basically uses the same professionals for ADS/ADHD/AS). So the CAMHS team are, in a way, contributing to his statement IYSWIM. Well at least thats what Ive been told. Lets see if it materialises.

 

See what the set up is in your area. CAMHS may or may not be a good move.

[skye]

Hi, I know your question was about CAMHS. Hopefully you got some good answers from other people on the forum as I don't know much about it, my first meeting with them is in December. I was wondering if you could give me some information about toe walking. My daughter toe walks all of the time. Last year the teacher pointed it out I discussed it with a health visitor who told me to make her stop. She still toe walks all of the time. I didn't realize that it was so serious. What age did your child have to get special shoes etc? Please message me if you have any advice. Thank you, Skye

Edited November 19, 2008 by skye