teams/services
Eating Disorders (ED) Team.
Who we are
The ED team offers assessment and treatment to young people and families who are experiencing eating distress.
We are a multi-disciplinary team that includes a child/adolescent psychiatrist, a dietician, nurses, family therapist, assistant psychologist, and cognitive behaviour therapist.
We can work closely with other agencies that you may be involved with. You can be referred by a professional that you meet with already, or contact us directly.
What we offer
We aim to provide treatment that is consistent with the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines for eating disorders (published in 2017). We aim to support the improvement of the emotional, physical and social functioning of the young person experiencing eating distress.
For children and young people there is evidence that a family-based approach is effective. This is achieved within the context of the multi-disciplinary team of health professionals. We are based within the Integrated Care Directorate working closely with paediatric colleagues, as well as general practitioners.
More information on eating disorders for young people and their families.
Eating disorders are relatively common in young people and can have a serious impact on emotional, physical and social functioning. The CAMHS Eating Disorder Team provides outpatient treatment for children and young people (up to the age of 18 years, who are registered with a GP within the North East Derbyshire and High Peak area) with eating disorders, together with their parents, carers and families.
WHAT ARE EATING DISORDERS?
Eating disorders can include experiencing a fear of eating, significantly low weight along with anxiety about weight, shape and hormonal disturbance. Sometimes individuals become preoccupied with exercise.
Some individuals experience recurrent binge eating as well as purging the body by vomiting or other means, along with concern about weight and shape.
Sometimes not all the symptoms are present, or noticeable to the individual or their close friends and family. This may still be an eating disorder.
TREATMENT FOR EATING DISORDERS
The CAMHS Eating Disorder Team aims to provide treatment consistent with the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines for eating disorders (published in 2017). The aim is to support the improvement of the emotional, physical and social functioning of the young person. You can self-refer for this input.
For children and young people, there is evidence that a family-based approach is effective. This is achieved within the context of a multi-disciplinary team of health professionals. We are based within the Integrated Care Directorate working closely with paediatric colleagues.
Treatment starts with a comprehensive assessment, to which the whole family is invited. The assessment involves taking a detailed history of the problems and the background, as well as an assessment of physical and emotional wellbeing. The assessment concludes with a treatment plan; agreed upon with the young person, the family and the multi-disciplinary team.
A summary of the treatment plan will be sent to the young person, family and the GP. The full assessment might require more than 1 session. Care will include the multi-disciplinary approach, family based treatment, individual treatment and sometimes group meetings. If a young person is medically unwell we also work closely with paediatric colleagues.
CONFIDENTIALITY
What you tell us in a session is confidential and we would always seek your agreement to share anything we have discussed. The only exception to this would be if we were worried about someone’s safety. In this instance we would talk with you about how best to manage the situation.
WORKING TOGETHER
We are interested in your feedback and will seek this each time that we meet with you. We also welcome any suggestions or concerns that might help us to improve our service overall. You can make these directly to us, via our feedback leaflet at reception, or by contacting the CAMHS Head of Service on 01246 514412. The team hope to continue learning about how best to work with children and their families and your ideas will be highly valued. We may also ask young people and families to complete 'Experience of Service' questionnaires.
How to get referred and other resources
REFERALS
Often assessment and advice can be sought from your GP.
Please contact us to make a referral for yourself (or as a parent/carer for your child/young person). Otherwise, you can ask your GP – or any other professional that you are meeting with – to refer to us at the address below. We are happy to work in partnership with other agencies that you have contact with.
Write to us:
Eating Disorder Team
CAMHS, The DEN
Chesterfield Royal Hospital
Chesterfield
S44 5BL
Tel: 01246 514412