Children and Young People's Community Eating Disorder Service (CYP-CEDS)
Providing specialist Eating Disorder assessment and treatment for children, young people, and families living in the London Boroughs of Wandsworth, Sutton, Merton, Kingston, and Richmond.
Our team
We are a Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) that specialises in treating children and young people who have an Eating Disorder. We are a community service based at Springfield Hospital and our service hours are Monday Friday, 9am-5pm.
Our service also works closely with the Paediatric ward at St George's Hospital, the Intensive Treatment Program (ITP) at the Maudsley Hospital and the specialist Eating Disorder inpatient unit, Wisteria, at Springfield Hospital.
We are a Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) which means we are made up of many different types of healthcare professionals.
As we work as an MDT, you will be unlikely to see all of these different professionals. Everyone who is seen by our service for treatment will be allocated a case manager, who will utilise the knowledge and expertise of these other healthcare professionals, even if they don't meet with themselves.
As we are a teaching hospital, we also often have students and trainees working with our team.
What our service offers
We offer specialist assessment for young people who may have an Eating Disorder. If a diagnosis of an Eating Disorder is made at assessment, we offer evidence-based clinical interventions that are delivered in line with the young person's needs and as agreed with the family through care planning.
Interventions are time limited, targeted, and goal-focussed. Treatment progress is reviewed regularly, and we aim to facilitate smooth transitions and discharge from the service.
Interventions that may form part of an individual care plan:
- Assessment of Eating Disorder, diagnosis, formulation, and recommendations for treatment
- Risk assessment and risk management plans to support safety and optimal functioning
- Treatment, in-line with NICE recommendations, for children and young people with Eating Disorders. The primary evidence-based treatment for children and young people with Eating Disorders is Family Therapy
- Psychoeducational parent's group, focussed on management of Eating Disorders
- Parenting groups
- Pharmacotherapy with advice and monitoring.
- Ongoing physical health monitoring in conjunction with your GP.
- Paediatric consultation.
- Consultation and liaison with other professionals.
What can I expect from treatment
The main treatment offered within our service is Family Therapy for Anorexia Nervosa (FT-AN) / Family Therapy for Bulimia Nervosa (FT-BN) which is the first line of treatment recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) in their guidelines.
FT-AN / FT-BN initially involves weekly appointments with the whole family; we encourage siblings to attend as well. Sometimes clinicians may suggest separate sessions with parents only or with the young person. This will always be managed within the context of family working.
Alongside family sessions, additional interventions may be offered, such as a psychoeducational parent's group. Recent research has shown improved outcomes for young people with Anorexia Nervosa whose parents have attended parent's group.
Referrals
Referrals to CYP-CEDS are currently accepted from professionals such as GPs, teachers, social workers, school nurses, or any other health or educational professional if they think there is a need for this service. Referrals can either be made directly to CYP-CEDS or via the Single Point of Access (SPA) team in each of the five boroughs that we serve.
If you are unsure about whether to make a referral to our service, please contact our duty clinician who will be able to advise.
Once a referral has been received the referrals team will screen the referral and may need to contact you for further information in order to decide about whether CYP-CEDS may be the most appropriate service. You will then be informed of the outcome of whether we are able to offer an appointment for an assessment.
Related Resources
NICE Guidelines
Eating Disorders: anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and other related eating disorders.
Understanding NICE guidance: a guide for people with eating disorders, their advocates and carers and the public. Eating disorders | Topic | NICE.
BEAT
BEAT is the UK's eating disorder charity which provides detailed information and support for people with eating disorders and their families. www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk
Recommended reading
- Anorexia and other Eating Disorders: how to help your Child to eat well and be well: Practical solutions, compassionate communication tools and emotional support for parents of children and Teenagers - By Eva Musby, APRICA (2014).
- Help Your Teenager Beat an Eating Disorder - By James Lock and Daniel, Le Grange The Guildford Press (2005)
- Anorexia nervosa: A Recovery guide sufferers, Families and Friends By Janet Treasure, 2nd Edition, Routledge (March 2013)
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