All children get upset sometimes and can have difficulties in their family or school lives.

We see children and young people who are very worried, sad or angry. This can affect their daily lives, including their behaviour, other feelings, eating and sleeping, as well as their relationships with friends and family.

Most children and young people are referred to us by health professionals such as their doctor (GP), hospital or community paediatrician, school nurse, or health visitor.  Professionals in education and social care can also refer children and young people into our Service.

Find out more about your local service below.

Children and Young People’s Psychological Services (CYPPS) is a secondary-level specialist service, working with children and young people up to the age of 16 years.

We offer specialist psychological assessment and therapeutic intervention with children, young people and, where appropriate, parents or carers. CYPPS works with children and young people with moderate to severe difficulties for example, mood, anxiety and behaviour.

Typically the children and young people we work with have already accessed some kind of support. For example, counselling. Where first-line intervention has not yet been tried and is likely to be helpful (or sometimes essential for psychological therapy to be beneficial), then this should be undertaken prior to a request for involvement with CYPPS.

For example, an Early Help assessment might be required, Aiming Higher or Cygnet group in relation to Autism, ADHD North West, Mental Health Support Teams within school, Children and Young People’s Well-being Practitioners. Within schools, Primary Mental Health Workers and Educational Psychology assessments or consultation can also be accessed.

How to access

You can be referred to our service by a professional, for example GP or a teacher.

Alternatively, you can self-refer here.

Useful resources

The following websites offer further information around children’s emotional well-being, which might be useful to explore:

  • www.healthyyoungmindslsc.co.uk/information/children-and-young-people
  • https://www.youngminds.org.uk/
  • https://www.anxietyuk.org.uk/
  • https://thesleepcharity.org.uk/

Contact us

CYPPS is based at Whitegate Drive Health Centre, Whitegate Drive, Blackpool FY3 9ES. Our telephone number is 01253 957 166.

Information leaflet

The CYPPS information leaflet is now available online

Children and Young People’s Psychological Services (CYPPS) is a secondary level specialist service, that accepts referrals for children and young people (aged 4 to 18) presenting with moderate to severe psychological difficulties, who would likely benefit from specialist psychological assessment and therapeutic intervention for the child, young person and/or their parents or carers.

Where a first line intervention has yet to be tried, and is likely to be helpful or is essential to create the framework for psychological therapy to be effective, then this should be undertaken prior to a request for involvement from CYPPS. For example, a Common Assessment Framework (CAF) may be required, Action for ASD or ADHD North West may be accessed, a family support package may be required, a home school liaison plan may be in place, involvement with Mental Health Support Teams in school is completed or one of the many voluntary sector offers. Poor engagement with a primary level intervention is not a good indicator for engagement with psychological therapy with CYPPS.

Where the psychological presentation is severe with high impact and a specialist therapeutic offer is indicated without a first line intervention, then CYPPS East may offer an Initial Assessment, e.g. clear post-traumatic stress or severe OCD presentation. It might be that a consultation between referrer and a member of the qualified team is required and this can be accessed Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm 01254 226 480.

Appointments are offered as telephone or video calls or face to face at The Mount in Accrington. Interpreters are available as needed.

We accept referrals directly from Medics, School Nurses, Social Workers, Educational Psychologists and other professionals only as part of an open and active CAF process. All referrals should be made using our referral form. To request a referral form please email C&F.ReferralCentre@lscft.nhs.uk.

CYPPS do not accept self-referrals. The Initial Response Service (IRS) provides a 24/7 all year round response for urgent concerns by calling 0300 029 0500. 

 

In East Lancashire, CAMHS Services are provided by ELCAS (East Lancashire Child and Adolescent Services) which is part of ELHT (East Lancashire Hospitals Trust). Their address is:

ELCAS, Burnley General Hospital, Area 3, Level 3, Casterton Avenue, BB10 2PQ

We have services in Preston and Lancaster.

In Preston, we are based at Royal Preston Hospital, we also see people in community health centres.

In Lancaster we are based at Longlands Child Development Centre.

Preston:

Children's Psychological Services
Avondale Unit
Royal Preston Hospital
Sharoe Green Lane North
Fulwood
Preston
PR2 9HT

Telephone: 01772 773415

Lancaster:

Children's Psychological Services Longlands CDC Westbourne Drive Lancaster LA1 5EE

Telephone: 01524 550020

Morecambe:

Altham Meadows

Bartholomew Road

Morecambe
Lancashire
LA4 4RR

Telephone: CAMHS – 01524 550650 ADHD – 01524 550660

Email: CAMHSCPS.Central@lscft.nhs.uk

Our main base is in Whitegate Drive Health Centre in Blackpool.

Children's Psychological Services Fylde Coast
2nd Floor Whitegate Health Centre
Whitegate Drive
Blackpool
FY3 9ES

Telephone: 01253 957166
Email: camhscps.f&w@lscft.nhs.uk

We offer specialist mental health advice, support and assessment and service the West Lancashire area.

Address:

West Lancashire CAMHS
Westgate House
Tanhouse Road
Skelmersdale
WN8 6DS

Telephone: 01695 684 262

The primary clinical focus of the service is to:

  • Offer psychological consultation to social workers and other staff working with children and young people who are Looked After by Lancashire County  Council (LCC) as well as children adopted
  • Provide psychological advice and support to adoptive families, foster carers and residential staff regarding children and young people in the care of LCC.
  • Provide training sessions, alongside partner agencies, to adoptive families as well as  foster carers looking after LCC children
  • Following initial consultations, carry out specialist assessment work and therapeutic interventions for children and young people adopted and those in the care of LCC

The service provides a targeted service to children and young people adopted and those in the care of LCC. Referrals to the service are usually made by the referred child's Social Worker.

We do not provide a court assessment service or forensic assessments.

All referrals should be made using our referral form. To request a referral form please email CYPSCAYT@lancashire.gov.uk

Telephone/email discussion and enquiries are always welcome, but a referral form needs to be completed for a service to be provided.

Telephone: 01772 538880

Specialist Tier 3 Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) are available in Cumbria and can be referred to if the difficulties with mental health are escalating.

Tier 3 CAMHS is a service for children, young people and families with significant, severe, complex or persistent emotional, mental health, psychological and/or relationship difficulties.

This could include:

  • Anxiety/Mood disorders
  • ADHD/ADD
  • Self-Harm
  • Eating disorders
  • Obsessive Compulsive disorder
  • Post traumatic Disorder
  • Somatic Disorder
  • Psychotic Disorders
  • More than one mental health condition
  • Severe behavioural problems (as part of any of the above)

The Tier 3 CAMHS team members include a range of mental health professionals and specialists who are trained and experienced in working with young people and their families.

MyTime is a Tier 2 CAMHS service and offers support for children and young people experiencing mild to moderate mental health issues by providing early targeted interventions, usually through around 6-8 sessions. The service also provides advice and support to parents, carers, school staff and others working in children's services across the county.

CAMHS South (South Lakes and Furness)
Alfred Barrow Health Centre
Duke Street
Barrow -in-Furness
LA14 2LB

Telephone: 01225 408660
Email: camhssouth@nhs.net

Healthy Young Minds online support and information

The health and care system in Lancashire and South Cumbria have created a website which provides information, support and resources for children and young people, their parents and carers and professionals who support them.

Access the Healthy Young Minds website


Healthy Young Minds

You can find a variety of advice, guidance and support related to children and young people’s mental health and emotional wellbeing on the Healthy Young Minds website for Lancashire and South Cumbria. 

The website divides information into three categories: children and young people, family members and carers and professionals.