Merton Community CAMHS Single Point of Access (SPA)
What is the Single Point of Access (SPA)?
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Merton Single Point of Access is the one point of access for professionals seeking a referral
for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services.
A service which provides prompt and timely decisions on all referrals based on mental health
need and risk
A service which signposts all referrals to the most appropriate setting, based on a
comprehensive and professional screening process.
Where required an assessment is offered to the young person and their family
The SPA is overseen by a consultant psychiatrist to strengthen management of risk
The SPA works closely with community CAMHS, social care teams, schools, the voluntary sector and
other local organizations working with children and young people. This close working relationship
facilitates children and young people to be seen by the most appropriate service to meet their needs.
The screening/Triage process within the Single Point of Access will ensure that all referrals are
directed to the most appropriate services. By ensuring that children and young people reach the right
service to meet their emotional and mental health needs at the right time, we can deliver a quality
service so enhancing the effectiveness of our work.
What are the opening hours for Merton SPA?
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Monday-Friday (excluding Bank Holidays)
Clinicians available 9.00 am to 5.00 pm
Office opens with administrative support 9.00 am-5.00 pm
How do I make a referral to to Merton CAMHS SPA?
All mental and emotional health referrals can be forwarded to the SPA. The referral form will need to
be completed in full to enable us to have consistent and appropriate information for prioritisation and
allocation.
201509 e-form
201509 hardcopy
referral MertonSPA CAMHS.docx
referral MertonSPA CAMHS.docx
You can also find the referral forms on the Merton CAMHS website www.swlstg-tr.nhs.uk/ourservices/child-and-adolescent-mental-health-service-camhs-merton/
Referrals forms can be sent via email to [email protected] or faxed: 0203 784 4475
If a referral is very urgent we will accept a telephone referral, followed by a formal referral and
supporting information
Emergency cases can be discussed with the duty clinician at the Single Point of Access (SPA) centre
on 0800 292 2505
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The referral form does not replace the Common and Shared Assessment (CASA). Where a
coordinated support plan is already in place, please support the referral form with a copy of the
existing CASA. Please ensure consent is obtained from the young person/parent or carer holding
Parental Responsibility to do this.
Who can refer to Merton CAMHS SPA?
Any professional who works with children, young people and families can refer into the
MERTON SPA
Including:
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GPs
Social workers
Health professionals including paediatricians, school nurses and health visitors
Adult mental health services
Schools, Educational Psychologists, SENCO, or Behaviour Support Team
CAMHS multi-agency teams, including the Youth Justice team, Social Care, Early years
Can I call the SPA before making a referral for a consultation?
You can call the SPA 0800 292 2505 prior to making a formal referral for an opinion regarding a
particular child, young person or family with whom they are working. The Single Point of Access staff
can advise on:
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Whether Community CAMHS can help
How to make a referral
What information the service needs
The timescale for being seen
What support might be available pending the first appointment?
If, after discussion, Community CAMHS is not the right service, the team will be able to advice on
other sources of help
If a referral is not appropriate for Merton Community CAMHS, we will guide referrers to information
about other, more appropriate, services
Recommended websites:
Other useful websites:
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My CAMHS Choices contains video FAQs about CAMHS services answered by young people
and CAMHS professionals.
http://mycamhschoices.org/
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Young Minds offers information for children and young people, parents and professionals about
CAMHS, how to look after yourself and what to do if you’re worried about a young person. Also
includes a CAMHS glossary and who’s who in CAMHS.
http://www.youngminds.org.uk/
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AnxietyBC Youth offers information and advice for young people on anxiety and videos of young
people’s experiences with facing their fears.
http://youth.anxietybc.com
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Understanding Childhood offers information for parents and professionals about children’s
development, including advice on how to deal with parental separation and bereavement.
http://www.understandingchildhood.net/
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My Mind - The Box contains lots of different activities and tools to use at home to set yourself
challenges, help yourself wind down and figure out who to talk to
http://mymind.org.uk/thebox
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Head Meds offers honest and easy to understand information about medication used to treat
different mental health conditions.
http://www.headmeds.org.uk/
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The Seven Apps and Websites are new apps and websites to support young people with mental
health difficulties.
http://www.innovationlabs.org.uk/the-seven-apps-websites/
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Time to Change offers information and advice for young people and parents about mental health
and how to support someone who is struggling.
http://www.time-to-change.org.uk
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Thinkuknow contains advice and information about how to keep safe online and how to report if
you’re worried about someone online.
http://thinkuknow.co.uk/
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B-eat offers information about eating disorders, recovery stories and how to get help.
http://www.b-eat.co.uk/
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Self-harm: parents' experiences features videos of parents and other family members talking
about their personal experiences of young people self-harming.
http://www.healthtalk.org/peoples-experiences/mental-health/self-harm-parentsexperiences/topics
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www.ncld.org
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www.helpguide.org/.../learning-disabilities-and-disorders.htm
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www.learningdisabilities.org.uk
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