Who this service is for
We provide a service for looked after children and adolescents and their carers, adoptive families and children in the care of their extended families or friends (kinship carers) who are experiencing emotional or behavioural problems.
Why refer to this service?
Families who care for looked after children frequently struggle with severe and sometimes undiagnosed problems that children can bring with them. We aim to produce a secure base for families over time, enabling them to develop attachments whilst addressing experiences of trauma and loss.
The service is staffed by a multidisciplinary group with contributions from child and adolescent psychotherapy, psychology, social work and psychiatry. Our staff work closely together in order to make the most of different team members' expertise and skills. We work very closely with professional networks to ensure joined-up working.
Kinds of treatment are offered
A range of consultation, assessment and treatment packages are available. These include treatment for children in transition and post-adoption work. The following interventions may be offered singly or in combination after an initial assessment and exploration with families and professionals:
- family therapy
- individual therapeutic work with children/young people, alongside work with parents and carers
- work with siblings
- parenting groups
- work with kinship carers and children
- liaison with schools, education departments and social services
- psychoactive medication.
Comprehensive assessments may be followed by longer-term individual or family treatment, the aim of which is to care for the mental health of the child or adolescent, and to alleviate the problems faced by adoptive parents, carers and other family members.
How to refer
For more information about our services please contact our team administrator on 020 8938 2500, or our team chair on 020 8938 2280.
All professionals considering a referral are welcome to call our administrator to arrange a time to speak with a clinician. For reasons of confidentiality, we cannot accept referral forms by email. When you fax or send your referral form to us it will be allocated to one of the team’s clinicians.
