Eastern Devon Children, Young People (CYP) & Families Mental Health Partnership

About us

The Eastern Devon Children, Young People and Families Mental Health Partnership is a collaborative effort between diverse organisations committed to improving the mental health and wellbeing of children, young people, and their families in Devon. This alliance includes educational institutions, local authorities, mental health services, and community organisations.

By focusing on early intervention and prevention, the partnership aims to provide seamless care across various specialties. It brings together a multidisciplinary team of professionals, including psychologists, psychiatrists, occupational therapists, speech and language therapists, physiotherapists, nurses, and administrative support.

In 2021, Public Health data revealed that self-harm admission rates for young people in Eastern Devon were significantly higher than the national averages. Alarmingly, these rates were three times greater in deprived areas, with the highest risk of admission to the emergency department among individuals aged 10 to 24. In response to this critical issue, the Eastern Devon Children, Young People & Families (CYPF) Mental Health Partnership Group was established in early 2022 as part of the prevention priorities of the Eastern Local Care Partnerships. Our mission is to address the mental health needs of children, young people and families in our community, ensuring they receive the support and resources necessary for their well-being.

Vision

The partnership’s vision is to improve lives for children, young people, and their families through connection, collaboration, and acting as a catalyst for change.

Partnership Chairs

Sarah-Lou Glover

Pending

Sarah-Lou Glover

Details pending

Jo Lewitt

Pending

Jo Lewitt

Details pending

Our Priorities

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Our work

The partnership is actively engaged in a variety of projects and work streams aimed at improving the mental and physical health of children, young people, and their families. Projects are developed in collaboration with local schools, community organisations, and healthcare providers to address emerging challenges and ensure that services are responsive to the needs of Devon’s communities.

Key initiatives:

Mental health in schools: The partnership works closely with schools across Devon to address mental health challenges, including anxiety, neurodiversity, and emotional wellbeing. Through collaborations with local schools, including Cranbrook Education Campus, Littletown School, and Sid Valley Schools, targeted support is being implemented for children struggling with school engagement.
Supporting families and caregivers: Recognising the stress on caregivers, collaborations with organisations such as Young Devon, Parental Minds, and YMCA offer comprehensive support. This includes guidance on issues like caregiver burnout, housing challenges, and transitions to adult services.
School absence and emotional wellbeing: A key focus of the collaborative work is supporting children who are not able to engage in traditional schooling. This includes working with neurodivergent children and addressing high levels of anxiety and school refusal. Innovative solutions are being explored to create inclusive strategies for these children.
Crisis intervention and suicide prevention: In alignment with national mental health initiatives, the partnership is working to develop suicide prevention strategies. Providers are offering responsive interim solutions for children and young people on waiting lists.

THRIVE model

Over the past two years, the partnership has received funding from the Local Care Partnership (LCP) to implement the THRIVE model, creating valuable resources and tools for young people, families, parents, carers, and professionals. Each month, the group shares updates on their activities with partners and the public, addressing the key questions: “How have we involved people?”, “How has it made a difference?”, and “What themes are emerging?” This allows us to spread the narrative surrounding CYPF mental health and foster more meaningful conversations.

Currently, the partnership is exploring effective ways to support children and young people, as well as their families, who are facing challenges in engaging with education.

THRIVE Directory image with QR Code that links to the guidelines on the Parental Minds CIC

Impact

As part of our efforts, the group has facilitated the formation of the Family Minds Partnership which brings together organizations dedicated to enhancing mental health support for children, young people, and their families. You can learn more about this initiative by visiting: parentalminds.org.uk/family-minds. Their emphasis on school transitions has resulted in the co-production of the Navigating Change resource.

The collection, publication, and dissemination of the Navigating Change resource will ensure that:

Children, young people, parents, caregivers, practitioners, and school staff in Eastern Devon have easier access to a variety of resources designed to support wellbeing during the transition from primary to secondary school.
The resources are co-created with families who have lived experience and the organisations that support them, ensuring their relevance and effectiveness.
School staff, practitioners, and caregivers will benefit from an expanded understanding of the available support options, both from statutory and voluntary sector organisations and gain practical strategies to assist children and young people (CYP) during this critical transition.

Medium term: CYP, parents, caregivers, practitioners, and school staff will feel more informed and confident, enabling them to support CYP more effectively, making the transition from primary to secondary school a smoother experience.

Longer term: This resource will play a vital role in county-wide initiatives aimed at reducing anxiety for young people and caregivers related to school transitions, ultimately leading to families reporting a more manageable experience and improved attendance.

Useful links and resources:

Children and Family Health Devon website – Click Here

Devon Schools Wellbeing website – Click Here

Parental Minds website – Click Here

Guidance and Policy

Statement of Purpose (pending)
Theory of Change (pending)

Our Meetings

The partnership holds regular meetings where members discuss current concerns, share information, and collaborate on innovative solutions. These meetings have led to several positive outcomes:

Aligning messaging for Mental Health Week
Identifying shared commitments to improve support in schools
Facilitating connections between different strategic initiatives
Securing funding for joint interventions (£80,000 for the 2024/25 academic year)