Finding the right service

Emergency, life at risk - you need urgent support.

Call emergency services on 999

Your child’s mental illness means their life is in immediate danger. For example, there is a significant risk of death within the next 24 hours.

Call North Cumbria CAMHS Crisis service on 0300 123 9015

Your child or young person is having a mental health concerns but the risk to their life is not immediate

Contact:

• emergency services on 111 or visit 111 online
• CAMHS
• speak to your existing named support worker

Your child or young person has a clinical mental health concern (for example, hallucinations or mania).

If your child or young person is aged:

• 0 to 17 years, ask your GP for a referral to CAMHS
• 18 years and over, contact the Community Mental Health Team

You’re worried about the safety of children in the home.

Call the Cumberland Children Advice and Support Service on 0333 240 1727

You want support for significant trauma (for example, domestic or sexual abuse).

Visit the Safety Net UK website.

You’re concerned about your child or young person’s drug or alcohol use.

If your child or young person is aged:

• 0 to 17 years, see Youth SAFE
• 18 years and over, visit the Waythrough website

You can self‑refer to both services.

You’re seeking an autism assessment.

Ask your GP or your education setting to refer to Community Paediatrics at NCIC NHS Foundation Trust.

You’re seeking an ADHD assessment.

Ask your GP or your education setting to refer to the Children’s ADHD Team at CNTW NHS Foundation Trust.

Your infant or toddler is not reaching expected developmental milestones.

Speak to your Health Visitor or see Health visiting services.

If they recommend it, ask your GP to refer to Community Paediatrics.

Your child is losing skills or abilities they previously had.

Speak to your GP. They will be able to provide support, advice and clinical interventions. Through their assessment, they will decide whether to refer to Community Paediatrics.

You want therapy for a neurodivergent child to help them be more neurotypical.

Our approach is not to challenge neurodivergent thinking. We support you to change the environment and reduce anxiety, distress and unhelpful pressures.

You want long‑term support.

Speak to your school’s Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO) or Pastoral Lead about starting an Early Help Assessment.

This brings services and agencies together with you to plan support for your child or young person and your family.

You want a supporting report for an EHCP application.

An EHCP assessment gathers reports from professionals across health, social care and education, and includes an assessment by an Educational Psychologist.

Speak to your school Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO) or SEND Information, Advice and Support Service (SENDIASS) about what supporting information might help. SENDIASS can also support you when applying for an EHCP or appealing an EHCP decision.

A diagnosis is not required for an EHCP.

You want a privately provided assessment, diagnosis, report or therapy.

As a public organisation we cannot recommend private providers.

Check professional registers such as:

• The Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)
• General Medical Council (GMC)
• Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC)