Service overview
The Mental Health Support Service supports children and young people aged 5 to 18, and their families, who are experiencing mild or moderate mental health difficulties. This might include feeling low, worried, or anxious, and may be affecting their day-to-day life.
These teams operate in selected schools across Slough, Bracknell and the Royal Borough of Windsor, Ascot and Maidenhead. This includes pupils on the roll of Virtual School for Children, looked after children, and young people who are not in employment or education (NEET).
Each of these schools will have an assigned educational mental health practitioner (EMHP). Depending on the age of the child or young person, the practitioner will work directly with them or with their parents.
We also work with school staff and offer a range of support to help the school develop and support a whole-school approach to mental health.
Before starting individual or group work we start with an initial assessment to understand the child or young person’s needs. Based on this, we may offer up to eight sessions of evidenced based support. These could be one-to-one sessions, guided self-help, or parent-led programmes, depending on the child’s age and what’s most helpful.
For those under 12, our clinicians offer parent-led and guided self-help interventions. This could include - Helping Your Child with Fears and Worries, or the Incredible Years Parenting Programme.
For those over 12, our clinicians offer individual one-to-one CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) informed interventions. This could include - Worry Management, Graded Exposure, or Behavioural Activation.
If direct help is not needed, we will help you in finding the support options that we think will work best for you.
Accessing our service
Children, young people, and families (CYPF) can access MHST primarily via their school.
Referrals can be made by a professional like a GP or teacher, or by a parent or carer. If you're aged 16 or over, you can refer yourself. We encourage referrals through schools wherever possible to ensure the right support is in place.
Once we receive a referral, our team will send a confirmation email to the person who submitted it.
The referral will then be triaged by the Mental Health Support Team, and we will share the outcome and next steps.
We may offer an initial assessment to understand the child or young person’s mental health needs. After that, we'll work together to decide what support might be most helpful. This might include direct support from our team or help accessing other local services.
To help us understand your child or young person’s needs fully, please ensure all parts of the referral form are completed before sending it to us. If you have any questions or need help filling out the form, please contact us at: CAMHSGettingHelpEast@berkshire.nhs.uk
Once a practitioner has been allocated, the identified practitioner will make contact via telephone or email to book in a suitable date and time for the initial assessment and discuss with you any reasonable adjustments required for you to attend.
Schools covered by East MHSTs
Bracknell
- Ascot Heath Primary School
- Binfield Church of England Primary School
- Birch Hill Primary
- Brakenhale (Greenshaw Learning Trust)
- College Hall PRU
- College Town Primary School
- Crown Wood Primary (Greenshaw Learning Trust)
- Crowthorne CE Primary School
- Easthampstead Park
- Edgebarrow School
- Fox Hill Primary
- Garth Hill
- Great Hollands Primary (Maiden Erlegh Trust)
- Harmans Water Primary
- Holly Spring Primary School
- Jennett's Park Cof E Primary School
- Kennel Lane Special school
- King's Academy Binfield (Kings Group Academy Trust)
- Meadow Vale Primary School
- Ranelagh School
- Sandhurst School
- Sandy Lane Primary
- St Michael's Easthampstead Primary School
- St Michael's Sandhurst CE Primary School
- The Pines Primary
- Uplands Primary School and Nursery
- Wildmoor Health Primary School
- Wildridings Primary
- Wooden Hill Primary
Royal Borough of Windsor, Ascot and Maidenhead (RBWM)
- Achieving for Children Virtual School
- Altwood CofE Secondary
- Charters Secondary
- Churchmead Secondary
- Cox Green Secondary
- Dedworth Middle
- Holyport College
- Larchfield Primary
- Manor Green Special School
- St Luke's Primary
- Trevelyan Middle
- Wessex Primary
- Windsor Boys Secondary
- Woodlands Park Primary
- Wraysbury Primary
Slough
- Baylis Court
- Beechwood School
- Cippenham School
- Claycots primary
- Colnbrook primary
- Ditton Park
- Godolphin Junior Academy
- Grove academy
- Haybrook
- Herschel Grammar
- Holy Family Catholic School
- James Elliman
- Langley Grammar
- Langley Hall Primary Academy Lower and upper School
- Littledown School
- Lynchill Enterprise
- Marish Primary School SEN provision
- Montem Academy
- NEET Provision (Not in Employment or Education
- Pippins Primary School
- Ryvers Primary School
- Slough & Eton
- Slough Virtual School
- St Anthony’s primary
- St Joseph’s Catholic High School
- St Marys C of E Primary School
- St Ethelbert's Catholic Primary School
- The Langley Academy Secondary
- The Langley Heritage Primary
- The Priory
- The Westgate School Secondary
- Wexham Court Primary School
- Wexham Secondary
- Willow Primary
Schools covered by West MHSTs
Reading
- Alfred Sutton
- All Saints Church of England Aided Infant School
- All Saints Junior
- Battle Primary Academy
- Blessed Hugh Faringdon Catholic
- Caversham Park Primary School
- Caversham Primary School
- Christ the King
- Churchend Primary Academy
- Civitas Academy
- Coley Primary
- Cranbury College
- E P Collier Primary School
- Emmer Green Primary School
- English Martyrs Catholic Primary
- Geoffrey Fields Infants and Juniors
- Green Park academy
- Hamilton
- Hartland High
- Highdown School
- Holybrook
- Katesgrove
- Kendrick School
- Kings Academy Prospect
- Maiden Erlegh Reading
- Manor Primary
- Meadow Park Academy
- Micklands Primary School
- Moorlands Primary
- New Christ Church
- New Town Academy
- Oxford Road Community School
- Palmer Academy
- Park Lane Primary
- Ranikhet Academy
- Reading Girls School
- Reading School
- Redlands
- River Academy
- Southcote
- St Anne's RC Catholic Primary School
- St John's CofE (Aided) Primary School
- St Martin's Catholic Primary School
- St. Mary & All Saints
- St. Michael's Primary
- Thameside Primary School
- The Avenue Special School
- The Heights Primary School
- The Hill Primary School
- The Ridgeway academy
- The Wren
- UTC
- Whitley Park
- Wilson Primary
West Berkshire
- Aldermaston C.E. Primary School
- Beedon
- Bradfield C.E
- Brightwalton
- Brimpton C.E
- Bucklebury C.E
- Burghfield St Mary's C.E Primary School
- Chaddleworth St. A's
- Chieveley
- Cold Ash St Marks's
- Compton
- Curridge
- Enborne C.E. Primary School
- Falkland Primary School
- Fir Tree Primary School
- Francis Baily
- Garlands Junior School
- Hampstead Norrey's
- Hermitage
- Highwood Copse Primary School
- Hungerford
- Inkpen
- John O'Gaunt
- John Rankin Junior School
- Kennet Secondary
- Kintbury
- Lambourn
- Mortimer St John's C.E. Infant School
- Mortimer St Mary's C.E. Junior School
- Mrs Blands Infant & Nursery School
- Park House School
- Parsons Down
- Robert Sandilands Primary School
- Shaw-cum Donnington C.E. Primary School
- Shefford C.E
- Speenhamland Primary School
- Spurcroft
- St Bartholomew's School
- St Finian's
- St John The Evangelist Infant and Nursery School
- St Josephs R.C. Primary School
- St Nicolas C.E. Junior School
- Stockcross C.E. School
- Sulhamstead & Ufton Nervert C.E. Primary School
- Thatcham Park
- The Downs
- The Ilsley
- The Willows Primary School
- The Winchcombe School
- Trinity School
- Welford & Wickham C.E. Primary School
- Whitelands
- Yattendon
Wokingham
- All Saints
- Bearwood Primary
- Beechwood Primary
- Bulmershe Senior
- Chiltern Way Special School (primary)
- Chiltern Way Special School (secondary)
- Coombes Primary
- Emmbrook Senior
- Foundry (primary)
- Foundry (secondary)
- Gorse Ride Junior
- Hawkedon
- Hawthorns
- Highwood Primary
- Keep Hatch
- Lamb’s Lane Primary
- Loddon
- Maiden Erlegh
- Oakbank Senior
- Shinfield St. Mary’s Junior
- South Lake
- St Crispins
- St Paul’s Junior School
- The Forest
- The Holt
- Waingels College
- Whiteknights Primary
- Willow Bank Infant
- Windmill Primary
- Winnersh
- Woodley Primary
Preparing for an assessment
Before your appointment, we’ll send you and your parent or carer some questionnaires to fill in. These help us get a better idea of how things have been going for you. You can send them back in advance or bring them with you on the day.
Appointments usually take place at school; however they may take place at one of our NHS Trust sites, or a local authority family hub depending on where you live and your needs. Your practitioner will talk through the options with you during your first conversation.
Your appointment usually lasts one to one and a half hours. During the appointment, we’ll work together to understand how things have been going, what’s been difficult, and what you’d like help with. We’ll also ask you questions about your safety, as our top priority is to keep you safe and well.
Some people find it helpful to write down a few notes about how they’ve been feeling beforehand, to make it easier to talk things through. We usually like to meet with you and your parent or carer together, so we can understand things from everyone’s point of view.
What To Expect From Your First Appointment
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Managing your health
Read our guides to learn more about our services, the additional support we offer, and the interventions we provide for children under 12 and over 12 years old.
MHST For Children Of Primary School Age
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MHST For Children Of Secondary School Age
File size: 639KB
Explore our CAMHS training for care professionals, designed to help recognise and support mental health challenges in children and young people. The weekly online modules offer practical, evidence‑based techniques and cognitive behavioural approaches.
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
Mental Health Support Service (East)
Contact number: 0300 2473 002 Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm (excluding bank holidays)
Frequently asked questions
What does MHST do?
MHST works closely with schools to promote emotional wellbeing through assemblies, workshops, and group work.
Examples include:
- Primary Schools: Anxiety and resilience workshops for parents, transition support, assemblies on wellbeing, and group work on resilience and transition.
- Secondary Schools: Anxiety and low mood workshops, exam preparation sessions, wellbeing assemblies, and peer mentoring initiatives.
We provide CAMHS training sessions such as:
- Anxiety Unpacked
- Supporting Young People with Low Mood
- Suicide and Self-harm Awareness
- World of Emotions
Find out more and book training or email CAMHSTraining@berkshire.nhs.uk
Who can refer to MHST?
Referrals are usually made through schools. Parents and carers can self-refer, but we encourage school involvement to ensure coordinated support.
What if my child is not in an MHST school?
If your child does not attend an MHST school, you can access support via the CAMHS Getting Help team in the related services section.
What if I need to cancel my appointment?
If you need to cancel or rebook an appointment, please call the CAMHS Getting Help and MHST Services on 0300 2473 002 or email CAMHSGettingHelpEast@berkshire.nhs.uk at least 24 hours before your appointment.
English is not my first language, can I bring a translator?
We understand that language can be a barrier, and we want to ensure you feel fully supported during your session. Our service provider, DALS, offers professional translation services for face-to-face, video, and telephone appointments.
If you need a translator, please let your clinician know in advance, including the language you need. We’ll be happy to arrange this for you.
What if I need urgent support?
If your child requires urgent out-of-hours mental health support, please call our urgent helpline on 0300 247 0000. This phone line is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Your child should be taken to A&E (or call for an ambulance) if they require urgent medical attention that is life-threatening such as:
- Recent overdose (medication, harmful liquids etc)
- Significant cuts (deep cut(s) and/or bleeding profusely)
- Burns that are blistering/red
- Loss of consciousness
Please remember that 999 is for life-threatening medical emergencies only. This is when someone is seriously ill or injured and their life is at risk.
Other sources of support available are ChildLine on 0800 1111, or Samaritans on 116 123.
Why is some of the support focused on parents instead of working directly with my child?
For children under 12, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommends parent-led interventions as the first-line treatment for anxiety. This is because younger children often benefit most when their parents are equipped with tools and strategies to support them at home.
These approaches are strongly evidence-based and can be very effective in reducing anxiety symptoms. In some cases, even for children over 12, we may involve parents where it’s clinically appropriate. This may be because the child prefers it, needs help putting strategies into practice, or if the difficulties are affecting home or school life.
Does your service support people with a neurodiversity diagnosis?
We provide support for young people who are neurodiverse or need reasonable adjustments. We’ll talk about what kind of support might help after your first assessment, based on what you need.
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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Provide service feedback: Have your sayRelated services
Mental Health Support Service (Berkshire West) for children and young people
Support for children and young people aged 5 to 18 experiencing mild or moderate mental health difficulties, and their family.
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Support for children and young people aged 5 to 18 with mild or moderate mental health difficulties who don’t attend an MHST school.
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