YPAS reaching out to the Community – YPAS Plus

September 23, 2016

This week sees a landmark celebration for the Young Person’s Advisory Service (YPAS) and the Liverpool Child Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) Partnership as contracts have been signed and the keys have been officially handed over to YPAS to begin setting up the first of 2 Community Hubs.

The YPAS Plus Community Hubs will deliver an early integrated CAMHS offer under the one roof. Bringing voluntary and statutory agencies together for the benefit of children, young people and their families. YPAS Plus will provide a range of services and links to health, education and social care supporting the mental health and emotional wellbeing needs of the community.

YPAS is a leading Liverpool charity that has been delivering mental health services for children, young people and families for over 50 years; we receive over 3000 referrals each year and work with over 200 families every year. Due to the consistent high demand for YPAS services, we need to be providing services at a faster rate, seamlessly within communities, providing easier access by reaching out to communities themselves. The funding from Liverpool’s Clinical Commissioning Group will now provide a North Liverpool and South Liverpool Community Hub which alongside the established YPAS city centre location will be a fantastic offer for Liverpool and a huge positive impact on the mental health and emotional wellbeing needs of the communities.

South Liverpool, Childwall keys have been handed over his week and work will begin on renovating the building. There will also be a timetable of community engagements events coming very soon.

Dr Simon Bowers, GP at Fulwood Green Medical Centre and CCG Clinical lead for children and young people said:

“It is a really exciting time for Liverpool as we take forward our transformation plan which aims to make the mental health and emotional wellbeing of children and young people everyone’s business. The development of YPAS plus is part of Liverpool’s vision and ambition to improve access to mental health and emotional wellbeing support for children and young people up to the age of 25 years.

“The three hubs are designed to provide early help to support children, young people and their families’ mental health and emotional wellbeing. They provide open access and a range of support delivered by a partnership of Child and Adolescent mental health providers. The hubs have been developed following wide consultation with children, young people and families who want easy and quick access to help, information and support.”

Further information on the CAMHS transformation plan can be found on:

www.liverpoolcamhsfyi.com

Monique Collier Chief Executive of YPAS said:

“I am very excited to announce our first PLUS Community Hub – SOUTH location

Our model is Partnership Led consisting of the delivery partnership of CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services) and broader services across health, education and social care. We aim to support the mental health and emotional well-being needs of community based children, young people and families by providing an integrated model of delivery that consists of support and therapeutic services provided by the right person at the right time from the right place. We have a lot to prove in a relatively small window of time. However, the commitment of the partnership providers together with the needs and commitment of local communities, we are confident the model will evidence early outcomes. I would like to thank ward counsellors Pauline Walton, Ruth Bennett & Helen Thompson community volunteers Deb Clisham and all the EMB team, Reverend Jane of St. Marks Church, Sharon Williams of Netherely Youth & Community Initiative

All members of the Netherley Youth & Community Initiative Forum & Viv Graham & all the PSS team at Belle Vale Millennium Centre, and thank you to local authority members, Cathy Griffiths, Paula Hobbs & Yvonne Maddocks for their commitment & continued support.”

We will keep you updated with the progress of our YPAS Plus hubs through our website and social media.

www.ypas.org.uk

Twitter:@YPASLiverpool

Facebook: /YPASLiverpool