National Deaf Child and
Adolescent Mental Health
Service
Tim Richardson, Service Manager
Aims

What is NDCAMHS?

Who do we work with?

Mental health in deaf children and young people

When and how to refer?
What is NDCAMHS?
 National
Deaf CAMHS
 National mental health service for deaf
children and young people aged 0-18.
 Increased risk of mental health problems
in deaf children
Who do we work with?

Work with deaf children and young people (0-18yrs) with
mental health problems, and their families

Work with hearing children who have deaf parents

To be referred:

CGAS score below 50

Severe/profound hearing loss or…

BSL as preferred language (Oral, non-signing children can be
referred)
Who pays?
National Specialist Commissioning Team
(NSCT), part of NHS.
NHS CB as of April 2013
Free for families.
Who works in the Northern arm?

Service Manager

Outreach Team Managers

Deaf Family Support Workers

Specialist Deaf Outreach Workers

Social Workers

CAMHS Community Nurses

Clinical Psychologists

Child and Adolescent Psychiatrists

BSL Interpreters

Medical Secretaries
Mental health and deaf children

Deaf children at greater risk of mental health
problems (40%)

Less likely to access CAMHS

Rates in deaf children with deaf parents
probably same as hearing children (25%)

90% deaf children born into hearing families
Types of mental health problems

ADHD

Psychosis

Eating disorders

Behaviour problems

Attachment problems

Mood Problems

Self esteem/identity problems

Self Harm

Anxieties/phobias

(Autistic spectrum disorders)
‘Deafness itself is not a risk for mental
health needs, it is the consequences of
being deaf in a hearing-oriented society.’
Helen Reed, NDCS 1996
Factors which may affect
deaf children

Abuse (NDCS)

Communication problems

Family relationship difficulties (e.g. attachment)

Peer relationship difficulties

Self esteem/identity

Additional sensory, physical, learning difficulties

School

Isolation

“Failure” (academic and social)

Bullying
Additional difficulties

About 1/3 of deaf children have additional
difficulties e.g.:
•
•

syndromes (eg. CHARGE, Waardenburg,
Ushers)
causes of deafness such as meningitis,
rubella, prematurity
Problems in identifying and assessing
additional difficulties (e.g. learning
difficulties and autism)
Deafness & Autism
 ASD
diagnosis more common in deaf
children BUT


Delayed Theory of Mind common when there
is linguistic deprivation
Fewer opportunities for incidental learning
When to refer
If there are concerns about a child/young person’s
mental health or behaviour.
 Could be related to concerns about e.g.
developmental disorder, communication disorder,
learning disability.

Who can refer?

Professional who knows the child or young
person such as a G.P., Social Worker, or Teacher
of Deaf.
If in doubt – professionals can contact us for a
consultation before referring.

What if I am a parent/carer?


We do not accept referrals from parents/carers.
Talk to a professional (G.P, ToD, Social worker),
they can refer.
Referrals
 Process:
•
•
•
•
•
•
Refer via referral form
Key worker allocated
Communication profile
Assessment offered
Care plan/intervention agreed
Review
How do we help?

Whole family work/family therapy

Parenting work

Individual work

Specialist full team assessments
How do we help?

Work with teachers and carers

Work with other agencies who may be involved

Communication (e.g. BSL letters)
Contact Details – York
Deaf Children, Young People and Family
Service (National Deaf CAMHS)
Lime Trees
31 Shipton Road
York YO30 5RE
Tel: 01904 726926
Fax: 01904 632893