Care and support

Who works for CAMHS?

CAMHS Staff are mental health professionals who are employed by Hertfordshire Partnership Trust.

Depending on which CAMHS team you visit you may find a variety of different professionals working with children, young people and their families to help them manage the difficulties that they are experiencing.

The list below gives some information about the types of staff that you are likely to meet; they are all trained in child and adolescent mental health:

Therapists

There are a number of therapists who work as part of CAMHS. These include:

• Play therapists use toys and games to help a child or young person understand feelings or events they have experienced
• Systemic Psychotherapists / Therapists work with a child or young person to explore relationships within their family and school as a means of helping to solve any issues they may have

Specialist Nurses

These are nurses who have chosen to specialise in child and adolescent Mental Health. They work in both community and in patient settings and provide assessment and treatment to children and young people.


Social Workers

These are qualified social workers who are also trained in either art, play, family or brief solution focused therapy. They are also often involved with Webster Stratton collaborative parenting training (developed at the University of Washington) and other parenting programmes.

Clinical Psychologists

These are specialists in working in partnership with children, young people and their families to look at behaviour and relationships. They work in such a way as to empower children, young people and their parents to work through any existing problems and increase their resilience.


Occupational Therapists

Currently we have Occupational therapists within the Adolescent Unit and the Outreach team. They work to improve a young person’s concentration, socialisation, confidence and independence. They can work individually or within small groups.


Psychiatrists

These are doctors who specialise in child and adolescent mental health. They often carry out assessments of children and young people and can prescribe medication if it is needed.