News Release

Tuesday 2 November 2021

Children’s and Adolescent Mental Health Services contract awarded

Mental health services for children and young people across Essex, Southend and Thurrock have been secured for another seven years.

North East London NHS Foundation Trust (NELFT) will continue to provide Children’s and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) in Essex following a successful tender.

The decision was made by the Southend, Essex and Thurrock Children and Young People’s Emotional Wellbeing and Mental Health Collaborative which is comprised of 10 partners, (3 local authorities and 7 NHS clinical commissioning groups (CCGs).
The service, known as Southend, Essex and Thurrock Children and Young People Mental Health Services (SET CAMHS), offers help and support to children aged up to 18, as well as people aged up to 25 with Special Educational Needs (SEN) and will be delivered in partnership with Virgin Care Limited.

Peter Wightman, Managing Director of West Essex CCG, which is the lead partner in the Collaborative, said:

“The Collaborative is delighted to announce NELFT has been awarded this contract. We very much look forward to working together to offer much needed help and support to children and young people living in Southend, Essex and Thurrock.”

Gill Burns, Children’s Services Director at NELFT, said:

“NELFT are delighted to be have been awarded this contract. We look forward to working with partners to continue offering care and support to the children and young people living in Southend, Essex and Thurrock for the next seven years.”

Richard Comerford, Managing Director of Virgin Care services across Essex, said:

“We are delighted to have the opportunity to work with NELFT to deliver this important service across Southend, Essex and Thurrock.
This will allow us to build on the work we have been doing over the past four years, through our Essex Child and Family Wellbeing Service, to make a really positive difference to the lives of children and young people in the region.”

The new contract begins on 1 April 2022.

Young people can self refer, or be referred to the service by their GP, parent/carers or teacher, if they are experiencing one or more of symptoms including:

• Mood and anxiety disorders
• Behavioural and conduct disorders
• Emerging personality and attachment disorders
• Eating disorders
• Psychotic disorders 
• Deliberate self-harm and suicidal thoughts
• Substance misuse
• Autistic spectrum disorder (ASD)
• Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
• Neurodevelopmental disorders
• Prolonged bereavement problems

All children referred into the service, and their families, receive support and services appropriate to their needs. For many this will be based in the community and be quickly accessible.

The service will include seven community hub teams, three crisis teams, an eating disorder service and an out of hours service which have already been in place.

Notes to editors
The Southend, Essex and Thurrock Children and Young People’s Emotional Wellbeing and Mental Health Collaborative brings 10 health and local authority organisations together to provide the most suitable mental health support to children and young people and is led by NHS West Essex CCG. The other members of the collaborative are:

• NHS Basildon and Brentwood CCG
• NHS Castle Point and Rochford CCG
• NHS Southend CCG
• NHS Thurrock CCG
• NHS Mid Essex CCG
• NHS North East Essex CCG
• Essex County Council
• Southend Borough Council
• Thurrock Borough Council

You can get in touch directly with the SET CAMHS during working hours (9am-5pm, Monday to Friday) on 0800 953 0222 or the out of hours crisis support call 0300 555 1201. For further information email westessexccg.comms@nhs.net