Who we are

We have two teams for referrals into CAMHS. The Getting Advice team in Bristol and South Gloucestershire, and the Access team in North Somerset. Our teams are made up of CAMHS mental health professionals and Off the Record staff.

Who we offer services to

The Getting Advice and Access teams support children and young people under the age of 18 with a registered GP in Bristol, North Somerset or South Gloucestershire. When a child or young person is significantly struggling with their mental health, they can be referred to the teams by a healthcare professional, for example a GP, community paediatrician or by education staff, such as SENCo or the mental health lead.

We aim to provide a safe and effective service to enable children, young people, families and professionals to access appropriate services. 

The team works together to:

  • look at the referrals into the service, typically within one working day. 
  • gather additional information, if necessary, from the referrer, young person or parent/carer to decide on the next best steps.
  • decide whether a CAMHS assessment is required or if other interventions and services would be better placed to support the needs of the child or young person.
  • communicate the outcome of the referral to the family, the referrer and the GP. The outcome could be a CAMHS assessment/intervention or recommendations of alternative interventions and services.

If you are a healthcare or education professional supporting a child or young person who is significantly struggling with their mental health, you can make a referral in writing using our Single Point of Entry form. Please see the Professionals page to access a referral document and find guidance on what to include in a CAMHS referral.

The Getting Advice team offers email consultations to health professionals in Bristol and South Gloucestershire for advice around possible CAMHS referrals and signposting/support options for emotional and mental health difficulties. Please see the Professionals page for more details.