Service detail

The Adolescent Outreach Team is a multidisciplinary community team, working across South West London, with the aim of helping young people to avoid inpatient mental health care by working more intensively with them in the community during a period of mental health crisis. Once the presentation has stabilised their care is transferred back to their local CAMHS team.

This service is for Young People aged 12-18 years who are experiencing an acute crisis in their mental health and who might be at risk of needing an inpatient admission owing to the severity of their illness or risk.

We have Specialist Nurses, Senior Support Workers, Consultant Psychiatrists, Clinical Psychologist, Occupational Therapist and Family Therapist.

A young person will have a key worker allocated and other staff will become involved according to the interventions/treatment required.

We see Young People at least once per week and this can be in their home, school, CAMHS clinic or other community venues. We also work with parents/carers to provide information, support and advice and to share risk management. We liaise with school and other services within the Young Person's support network, as appropriate. Owing to the nature of the presentations, we do not operate a waiting list and, if a referral is accepted, we will usually offer an assessment within a few days.