The emotional and practical challenges for families navigating a child’s mental health journey can be immense. Parents often find themselves caught between long NHS waiting lists and uncertainty about what private care involves. This guide explains what CAMHS is, how children and adolescents can be supported in Oxfordshire, and how OXBAM provides assessments and interventions that are timely, evidence-based, and recognised by schools and GPs.
What CAMHS Does
CAMHS – Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services – is the umbrella term for specialist care that helps young people under 18 manage emotional, behavioural, or psychiatric challenges. It includes common concerns such as:
- Anxiety and low mood
- Obsessive–Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
- Self-harm or thoughts of suicide
- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
- Eating difficulties and school refusal
In Oxfordshire, NHS CAMHS provides vital crisis care and community support, but many families experience delays. Independent services like OXBAM complement the NHS by offering assessments and interventions that follow the same NICE (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) guidance.
Why Timely Support Matters
Across the UK, more than 400,000 children are currently on CAMHS waiting lists, with some families waiting over a year. For a young person struggling at home or school, that time can feel like a lifetime. Early intervention reduces distress, prevents escalation, and helps keep children engaged with education and friendships.
If you’re a parent in Oxfordshire, knowing when to seek help is critical. If a young person’s difficulties are persistent, worsening, or impacting daily life, it’s time to explore referral. If there is immediate risk to safety, families should use NHS crisis services or dial 999.
The OXBAM Approach
At OXBAM, our child and adolescent team works with the THRIVE framework: a needs-led model where decisions are shared with families and shaped by the young person’s goals. Our assessments are comprehensive, and our treatment plans are clear and practical.
- NICE-aligned assessments for ADHD, depression, anxiety, OCD and self-harm risk.
- Family-centred care with parent guidance and ongoing check-ins.
- Collaborative school input, helping SENCOs, teachers and safeguarding leads apply recommendations in real settings.
- Evidence-based interventions, from CBT-informed strategies to parent support sessions and, where appropriate, medication discussions in partnership with GPs.
What to Expect from an Assessment
- Referral – parents, schools, or GPs can contact us directly. We encourage GP involvement to ensure joined-up care.
- Triage call – a short conversation to understand concerns, risks, and goals.
- Assessment sessions – clinical interviews with child and parent, standardised questionnaires, and school liaison where consented.
- Formulation and report – a clear explanation of the difficulties, why they may be occurring now, and practical next steps. Reports are written to be shared with schools and GPs, and are mapped to NICE guidance so they are recognised by NHS pathways where appropriate.
- Intervention and review – therapy, skills work, or onward referral. Outcomes are tracked, and plans are adjusted in collaboration with the family.
Local Relevance for Oxfordshire Families
Mental health provision in Oxfordshire is under significant pressure, and many families feel they are “waiting in limbo.” Oxford Brain and Mind offers a local, responsive alternative. We know the Oxfordshire system – the NHS CAMHS Single Point of Access, local schools and colleges, SEN provision, and the safeguarding networks. Our clinicians regularly liaise with local GPs, ensuring that private reports are not “standalone” documents but integrate smoothly with ongoing care.
A Guide for Referrers
For GPs, SENCOs, and social care professionals, a strong referral includes:
- Main concerns and impact (attendance, self-care, relationships).
- Risk summary (self-harm, safeguarding issues).
- Developmental/educational background (EHCP, SEN, prior interventions).
- Family context (carers, stressors, protective factors).
- Consent details (Gillick competence where under 16; assumed competence 16–17).
This information allows Oxford Brain and Mind to provide safe, efficient triage and to design interventions that are realistic and immediately useful.
Consent and Confidentiality
Young people aged 16–17 are usually able to consent to their own treatment. Under-16s may consent if deemed Gillick competent, meaning they understand and weigh up the decisions involved. Wherever possible, we encourage parental involvement, while respecting confidentiality and safeguarding duties.
Working Alongside the NHS
Oxford Brain and Mind does not replace NHS CAMHS. Instead, we provide assessments and interventions that are:
- NICE-aligned, ensuring clinical credibility.
- Accepted by GPs and schools, supporting continuity.
- Useful for NHS transitions, for example where ADHD medication initiation must remain under NHS teams.
Our role is to help families avoid long delays and provide a bridge into further support.
FAQs
Do I need a GP referral?
No – families, schools, and professionals can refer directly, though GP involvement is strongly encouraged.
Will Oxford Brain and Mind reports be recognised by the NHS?
Yes – our reports are NICE-aligned and written for GP and school use. They are more likely to be accepted within NHS pathways than non-standard private reports.
What if my child’s needs are urgent?
We are not an emergency service. For urgent mental health support, families should contact NHS urgent CAMHS, dial 111, or call 999 if life is at risk.
How to Refer
To make a referral, email connect@oxbam.co.uk
