Children and Young Peoples Targeted Emotional Wellbeing MH Services in Harrow

NHS NW London ICB required the Provision of Children and Young Peoples Targeted Emotional Wellbeing Mental Health Services in Harrow.

The Harrow Council and NHS North West London Integrated Care Board are joint commissioners of the service and may be referred to as the Commissioning Lead or Commissioners.

Historically, the London Borough of Harrow and NHS North West London Integrated Care Board ("NHS NW London ICB") have commissioned an emotional wellbeing service (EWB) called Harrow Horizons since April 2017 whose primary focus is to provide early intervention and prevention with the aim of supporting children and young people aged 0-19 (up to 25 with SEND) to overcome mild to moderate difficulties.

The new service will continue to be aimed at supporting families and carers who are most in need by improving mental health and emotional wellbeing.

This service will offer a blended model of training, support, advice and consultation for families and carers, as well as those professionals involved in their care, alongside offering a range of time-limited evidence-based interventions to children, young people and their families/carers within a community setting or school.

The primary aim of the service is to achieve the best possible outcomes for our children and families and bring about positive change whilst helping support CYP to achieve their optimum emotional health and wellbeing, and to reduce health inequalities. A service that builds resilience, enhances positive strengths and empowers children, young people, and their families/carers.

Additional information: The aims of the service will be achieved by providing an excellent quality service that:

• Work with CYP and parents/carers in co-designing and reviewing care pathways engage young people in meaningful involvement of services, such as recruitment, feeding ideas into service design.
• Considers information within a cultural framework which demonstrates an understanding of cultural differences and any impact it may bear on assessment and response to the CYP's needs.
• A range of accessible and engaging evidence-based activity and/or therapeutic offer to meet the emotional wellbeing and mental health needs of CYP and their families/carers. Information provided to CYP and their family's needs to be clear, easy to understand and jargon free.
• Ensure that CYP have a single point of access for the service, and those who access the service are seen in a timely manner; providing initial and follow-up responsive assessments that are written and shared with the CYP and/or parent/carer and other appropriate professionals (e.g. SEN/education/Social Care). Ensuring that any additional vulnerability or inequality suffered by CYP (e.g. learning disability, autism, victim of child sexual exploitation) is properly considered when identifying appropriate interventions
• Work using a trauma informed approach and be accessible and responsive to Children Looked after recognising their particular vulnerabilities and additional adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and that they are likely to require emotional support. Looked after Children should be prioritised for assessments and improved access. The use of a flagging system, offer of outreach and wider support to the care network around children looked after.
• Ensure that reasonable adjustments and adaptations are made to support the care of CYP with additional needs e.g. autistic children;
• Ensure that clear communication pathways and information sharing mechanisms are in place so that CYP and, where appropriate, their parents/carers experience a smooth journey through the care pathway;
• Ensure that all therapists are appropriately trained to meet the social, cultural, and linguistic needs of CYP and their families to enable them to be more involved and take more ownership of their care;
• Ensure CYP leaving the service have an agreed and documented discharge plan to ensure transition is processed smoothly.

The duration of the contract will be for 36 months with the option to extend by a further 24 months.