Home › Service users and carers › In crisis › Wakefield CAMHS professional referral form › Wakefield CAMHS referral guide for Professionals

Wakefield CAMHS referral guide for professionals

This guide supports professionals working with children and young people to understand when a referral to CAMHS is appropriate. It includes clear criteria, which align with the THRIVE model, and a trauma-informed approach to safety and risk.

 If Someone Is in Immediate Danger

If a child or young person is at immediate risk of harming themselves or someone else, please call 999 or take them to A&E. You can also contact the CAMHS ReACH Crisis Team between 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM, 7 days a week for risk management advice and support.

When to Refer to CAMHS

CAMHS can support children and young people under 18 who are experiencing:

  • Severe or long-term low mood, anxiety, or emotional distress
  • Suicidal thoughts, plans, or previous attempts
  • Frequent or escalating self-harm
  • Symptoms of psychosis (hearing voices, unusual beliefs)
  • Ongoing impact of trauma (e.g., PTSD)
  • Disordered eating or refusal to eat
  • Neurodevelopmental concerns alongside mental health difficulties

What to Consider Before Referring

Ask these questions first:

  • What has the young person been experiencing, and for how long?
  • How is this affecting their day-to-day life (e.g., school, sleep, eating, relationships)?
  • Have there been any major changes or traumatic events recently?
  • ?

Understanding the THRIVE Model

CAMHS follows the THRIVE model to match support to the young person’s needs:

THRIVE Category What It Means Who Might Help
Thriving Doing well, no mental health support needed Family, School
Getting Advice Mild issues like sleep or routine GP, Compass, Family Hubs, SPA, MHST
Getting Help Ongoing emotional concerns CAMHS, School, Early Help, MHST
Getting More Help Severe/complex mental health needs CAMHS
Getting Risk Support Not engaging and high risk CAMHS Crisis Team, Social Care

 Safety Planning Checklist

✅ Explore self-harm or suicidal thoughts and identify risks

✅ Discuss protective factors (family support, future goals, interests)

✅ Create a written safety plan with the young person and/or carers

✅ Share emergency contact options (CAMHS ReACH, Papyrus, Samaritans)

✅ Review the plan regularly and adapt as needed

 Ready to Refer?

Make sure you’ve:

✅ Obtained informed consent from the young person/family

✅ Completed safety planning (if risk is present)

✅ Explored Early Help, school, School Nursing, MHST, Compass, or GP support

✅ Completed the CAMHS Online Referral Form

Contact & Support

For questions about referrals, and/or support to complete referral form online, please contact the CAMHS Single Point of Access (SPA) Team.

Local support services include:

🌐 Compass Wakefield: https://www.compass-uk.org/services/wakefield-5-19-hcwbs/

🌐 GIPSIL: https://gipsil.org.uk/mental-health/ 

🌐 Wakefield Family Hubs: https://www.wakefieldfamiliestogether.co.uk/family-hubs/

Useful contacts:

On this page, you can find contact details for a young person looking to get information and support for:

Some helplines are open 24/7 :

  • Anything at all – call Samaritans on 116 123
  • Abuse – call Childline on 0800 1111
  • Crime and traumatic events – call Victim Support on 0808 168 9111
  • Crisis support – text SHOUT to 85258
  • Drugs and alcohol – call FRANK on 0300 123 6600
  • Suicidal thoughts – call HOPELINE247 on 0800 068 4141

General support for young people

These contacts can offer information and support for   mental health, wellbeing, and relationships.

Barnardo’s

barnardos.org.uk/get-support/support-for-young-people
Practical information and emotional support for:

  • Young people
  • Young people leaving care
  • Young carers

Provides local services for further support in some areas of the UK.

BigDeal

0808 8020 133
bigdeal.org.uk
Information and advice for young people who are worried about their gambling activity or worried about someone else’s. Offers support, workshops, and a live chat.

Childline

0800 1111 (24/7)
childline.org.uk
Information and advice for young people on topics like bullying, body image, and relationships. Also offers:

  • A phone helpline
  • 1-to-1 online chats with counsellors
  • Online message boards
  • Counsellors who can speak Welsh and also British Sign Language (BSL) interpreters

FRANK

0300 123 6600 (24/7)
82111 (text line)
talktofrank.com
Confidential support, advice and information about alcohol and drugs, plus their effects and the law.

Hub of Hope

hubofhope.co.uk
A database of UK mental health charities and organisations offering advice and support.

Kooth

kooth.com
Safe, anonymous, online community and counselling for young people in certain areas of the UK. New users need to create an account to use it.

Local Minds

mind.org.uk/about-us/local-minds
Local mental health services across England and Wales. Offers talking therapies, peer support, and advocacy. Check to see if there is a local Mind near you.

The Mix

themix.org.uk
Support and advice for people under 25, including:

  • Crisis messenger text line
  • Discussion boards
  • Webchat
  • Short-term counselling online and by phone

The Mix uses the Shout textline

NHS Every Mind Matters

nhs.uk/every-mind-matters/mental-wellbeing-tips/youth-mental-health
Information and advice on mental health and wellbeing. Includes videos about dealing with change, social media, and sleep.

On My Mind

annafreud.org/on-my-mind
Information, support and resources about mental health and wellbeing.

On My Mind uses the Shout textline

Reading Well

readingagency.org.uk/reading-well
Self-help books to help people understand and manage health and wellbeing.

Samaritans

116 123 (24/7)
Helpline open 24/7 for people to talk about any concerns, worries and troubles they’re going through. Offers some in-person Samaritans branches.

Page last updated on:

Search our site

Back to top