About Us

We have a strong reputation in Northumberland for having a collaborative and integrated local offer to support children and young people’s emotional health and wellbeing across the county. This offer is delivered by a range of providers from both the statutory and voluntary sectors, in conjunction with services across health, education and children's early help social care.

In relation to access to emotional wellbeing and mental health support, a needs and asset-based approach has been agreed. Our aim is to ensure that all children, young people and the adults who support them, have easy access to a range of information and support services. We have developed a THRIVE model called: The Graduated Approach to Children's Wellbeing and Mental Health Provision. The foundation of this model rests upon the need for all children to access opportunities within universal settings and to develop positive wellbeing through early interventions and the preventative public health agenda.

Northumberland's plans for transforming support for mental health are set out in the transformation plan.

Below is an outline of the teams and services supporting wellbeing and mental health for children and young people in Northumberland. Levels of support are graduated and referenced as: coping, getting help, getting more help and accessing specialist help.

Coping

Kooth provides access to an online mental health and wellbeing community, giving free, safe and anonymous support for those aged11-25 years: https://www.kooth.com/

Coping

Chat Health offers a confidential text messaging service that enables children and young people (aged 11-19) to contact their local public health nursing (school nursing) team.
Advice for Teens in North Tyneside Text: 07507 332 532
Advice for Teens in Northumberland Text: 07507 332 258

Coping

School nurses promote and protect the physical health and emotional wellbeing of children and young people who are school age. They work in partnership with other agencies to ensure children and young people make the right choices about their health, in addition to safeguarding their welfare so they are protected from significant harm.

Every local authority school or academy has their own school nurse: speak to a member of staff in school to find out more or contact the school nurse.

North Locality School Health Team - 01670 761908

Central Locality School Health Team - 01670 564048

South East Locality School Health Team- 01670 629670

West Locality School Health Team - 01434 636939

Coping

Cygnus helps people in Northumberland to improve their mental health and wellbeing. Its self-help guidance and counselling services support people to manage their symptoms and prevent them from getting worse.

Cygnus Support is one of the voluntary sector partners in the Be You Northumberland programme and Amanda Sayers is the Co-ordinator at Cygnus working with parents and carers of children and young people offering a choice of emotional health and wellbeing support.

Amanda is supporting parents and carers to help them manage their own wellbeing whilst also empowering and upskilling them to support the emotional wellbeing of their children. If you, as a parent or carer, feel like you or your family are struggling emotionally and could do with some help, please reach out as a first step and contact Cygnus by telephoning, texting or emailing Amanda at Cygnus.

Contact Number: 07377 265 036

Email: admin@cygnussupport.com

Website: Welcome to Cygnus Support

(currently in Blyth, Hexham, Ashington and Bedlington only: coping / getting help)

The Department for Education and NHS England have made funding available to develop a new programme to help improve children and young people’s mental health by creating new Mental Health Support Teams (MHSTs) within schools. These teams help children and young people with mild to moderate mental health needs and provide training and support for school staff.

Northumberland was chosen as one of twelve Trailblazer sites to pilot this new programme. Initially it was delivered in the Blyth and Hexham areas, which has now been expanded to include Ashington and Bedlington (2020-2021). The hope is that, funding permitting, there will be an opportunity to expand across the county.

For further information please contact:
Rhian Davies rhian.davies@northumbria.nhs.uk or

Katinka Bryan katinka.bryan@northumberland.gov.uk

The team in Trailblazer schools includes:

• Educational Mental Health Practitioners (EMHPs), who provide low intensity interventions for children and young people with mild to moderate mental health needs
• a Peer Mentor, who provides peer mentor programmes as part of the Be You team.

Please see the attached link to the core offers of the PMHW service along with a video on the role of the PMHW service in the Be You mental health team:https://www.northumbria.nhs.uk/our-services/childrens-services/primary-mental-health-work/#0e090cd4

Contact the team Monday to Friday 9am-5pm

Telephone: 01661 864588
Email: PMHW@northumbria-healthcare.nhs.uk

Getting help

This is a targeted, early intervention children’s mental health service for children and young people presenting with moderate mental health issues. PMHWs work with children and young people (0-18), parents / carers and professionals across Northumberland, providing:

• interventions on a one to one and group basis with young people and their families
• a telephone consultation line to provide advice, guidance and signposting to professionals, parents / carers and young people over the age of 15
• liaison with collegaues in universal, targeted and specialist services to help children and young people access the right support at the right time
• teaching and training to raise awareness of children’s mental health with colleagues in a range of universal services across education, health, social care, youth and community and voluntary services.

Click HERE to find out more.

Getting more help

The Children and Young People’s Service provides a single service to all children and young people aged 0-18 years living in Northumberland who present with mental health difficulties. This includes children and young people who may have learning difficulties and those living in a range of difficult and challenging circumstances.

Referrals are accepted from any professional working with a child, young person or their family and self referrals can also be made. Referrals are accepted in written form by letter. Referrals can also be made on the telephone by calling 01670 502 700 or freephone 0800 652 2862.

Email: NorthumberlandCYPS@cntw.nhs.org

Opening times: 8am - 6.30pm, Monday to Friday.

Getting specialist help

The Crisis Resolution and Home Treatment Team is a team of experienced mental health staff, which includes nurses, social workers, psychiatrists and pharmacy staff. It offers assessment and home treatment for people over 16 experiencing a mental health crisis, as an alternative to hospital admission.

• Telephone for GPs/Professionals making referrals 24/7: 0303 123 1146 or freephone 0800 652 2861
• Telephone for Young People/Carers making referrals 24/7: 0303 123 1146 or freephone 0800 652 2861
• For Deaf service users please text 07887 625 277

The team operates 24 hours a day 7 days a week. However, the crisis team does not provide an ’emergency’ service such as a 999 response.

For urgent or emergency referrals requiring a response within 24 hours please call: 0303 123 1146 or freephone 0800 652 2861 (24/7); for Deaf service users please text 07887 625 277.