Posted on: 4 December 2023
On the ninth day of the White Ribbon Campaign, CNWL’s CAMHS services have pledged their commitment to preventing domestic abuse.
Our CAMHS services recognise the importance of addressing domestic abuse from an early age. Many children and young people presenting within their services will be displaying symptoms caused or exacerbated by their experiences of growing up within households impacted by domestic abuse. We have also seen an increase in the prevalence and complexity of abuse in peer-on-peer relationships.
Brent Mental Health Support Team is a CAMHS early intervention and prevention service that has been working in the borough since November 2020.
The team of education mental health practitioners, child wellbeing practitioners, and CAMHS practitioners (CBT/art therapy/drama therapy) are currently working with 29 participating schools (9 secondary, 20 primary schools) in the borough.
There is a remit to support with:
- 1:1 support - short-term CBT-informed guided self help
- Supporting schools to develop a whole school approach to mental health and wellbeing
- Consultation and signposting to appropriate services
In advance of the White Ribbon Campaign, the Team shared information on the campaign with participating schools to include signposting to specialist Domestic Abuse services and resources for schools. A White Ribbon leaflet was designed and disseminated across the school network.
The plan is to follow up and audit any outcomes around this.
The service reports that they are aware of an increased number of referrals where a history of domestic abuse is indicated. The team attended a two-day trauma-informed training earlier this year on the ARC framework (The Attachment, Regulation and Competency). This is a flexible, components-based intervention developed for children and adolescents who have experienced complex trauma.
The service continues to bear this in mind when new referrals to the service are discussed.
