Service overview
We work with young people who are experiencing significant, severe, and complex difficulties with their mental health.
This can include feeling low, worrying about many things, finding it hard to make or keep friends, hearing voices, dealing with eating difficulties, self-harming, or even having suicidal thoughts.
The CAMHS Common Point of Entry (CPE) is where all referrals come in. It’s the starting point for accessing our services and getting the right support.
Accessing our service
If your child is struggling with long-term or complex mental health issues, such as anxiety, depression, psychosis, eating disorders, or obsessive compulsive disorder, we offer initial assessments to help understand their needs.
You can refer a child or young person if you're their parent or guardian, or a professional involved in their care. If you're aged 16 or over, you can refer yourself.
Once we receive your referral, we’ll send you a confirmation letter explaining what happens next. This might include a phone call to learn more, or a referral to another NHS-funded service that’s better suited to help.
We work closely with local authority services, Mental Health Support Teams in schools, voluntary and community services, as well as the University of Reading.
We’ll always let you know who’s providing the care and only share the information needed for your referral.
Preparing for an assessment
If we accept your referral, we'll offer you an assessment appointment, which can be by video, phone, or in person. This usually lasts about one hour.
We try to be flexible on where your child is seen and who they are seen by, but sometimes this means waiting a little longer.
We encourage your child to be involved in their care and share how they’re feeling. We’ll provide accurate, appropriate, and simple information to help you both make choices about care and support. We’ll also explain what your child might be going through and where you can find extra help if needed.
Our team follow guidelines when gaining consent for treatment and to make sure that everyone is well informed of their rights and how your child’s privacy is protected. If you’re unsure or don’t agree with something, we’ll talk through the options with you.
Managing your health
Your e-Health Passport
Your e-Health Passport lets us know what's important to you - from your preferred name and pronouns to how you'd like us to support you and communicate with you.
Learn moreContact us and FAQs
Frequently asked questions
What if I need urgent support?
If your child is experiencing a mental health crisis and needs urgent support, you can call NHS 111 (and choose the mental health option) or use the NHS 111 online service.
You can also contact our Mental Health Access Team on 0300 247 0000.
If they have injured themselves, taken an overdose, or you're worried about their immediate safety, please call 999 or go to your nearest emergency department.
Other sources of support available are Childline on 0800 1111, and Samaritans on 116 123.
We can also help you with
Is there any information for friends, family and carers?
If you’re a family member/carer or you look after someone, there’s practical, financial, and emotional support available to you from a range of local communities and national organisations.
How do I request an interpreter?
We can provide language translation and interpretation support whenever you visit or contact us.
Tell our staff which language you prefer to use, and we will make sure the right communication support is in place for your assessment and treatment. Please let us know as early as possible so we can ensure the appropriate translation or interpreting support is available.
We offer a range of professional services to ensure everyone can understand and be understood:
- telephone interpreting
- video remote interpreting (VRI)
- face‑to‑face interpreting
- written translation
- British Sign Language (BSL) interpreting
How can I get information in an accessible format?
Anyone with a disability, impairment, or sensory loss has the right to receive information in a format that meets their needs. Under the Accessible Information Standard (AIS)—a legal requirement for all health and adult social care providers—we must ensure that people who use our services, including carers and families, can understand the information we provide and communicate effectively with us.
We can offer information in a range of accessible formats, including:
- British Sign Language (BSL)
- large print
- braille
- audio
- easy Read
- text message
- face‑to‑face support with a carer or advocate present
If you need information in any of these formats, please tell a member of our team and we will make sure your communication needs are met.
Are service dogs allowed to my appointment?
Yes. You are welcome to bring your registered service animal, such as a guide dog, hearing dog, medical alert dog, or other trained assistance dog to your appointment.
These animals are recognised as essential support and are permitted in most areas of our services.
To help us prepare, please let the team know before your appointment if you will be attending with a service animal. This allows us to make sure the environment is safe and comfortable for you, your animal, and other patients.
Please note that service animals may not be able to enter certain restricted clinical areas for safety or infection‑control reasons, but we will always work with you to find an appropriate alternative.
Treating our team with respect.
Respect is important.
We will be polite and kind and we expect that you treat our staff in the same way.
Abuse, hate and discrimination against our staff is unacceptable.
We will take strong action against anyone who is verbally, racially, physically, or sexually abusive to them.
This includes contacting the police to prosecute, and stopping future access to our healthcare services.
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