The number for Children and young people who want support with mental health issues changed on 1 April.

The new number 0300 247 0090 (option 4) will be available for families and children and young people to call for mental health support including advice and information, arranging therapeutic activities and therapy/counselling.

Wiltshire Children and Young People Wellbeing Service is commissioned by Wiltshire Council to provide information, advice and well-being support for children aged 5-18 who live in Wiltshire or are registered with a Wiltshire GP. HCRG Care Group has taken on the contract from Barnardos.

The service provides early mental health and well-being support including advice and information, arranging therapeutic activities and therapy/counselling. The service is designed to help children and young people avoid reaching a crisis point.

The service delivers three separate elements:
● Advice and Information, including signposting, management and promotion of the ‘on your mind’ website as well as onward referrals to other services
● Therapeutic Positive Activities, examples of which include visits in the community, making homemade insect hotels, baking groups etc.
● Therapy and Counselling – individual and group therapeutic interventions with trained and accredited counsellors.

HCRG Care Group already provides a number of community health services for children and young people in Wiltshire and will be operating these services alongside its other initiatives.

The group will work with Oxford Health which provides the Child and Adolescent Mental Health service (CAMHS) to organise referrals and create care pathways for children and young people.

Cllr Laura Mayes, cabinet member for Children’s Services, said: “We want to be there for children and young people who are finding it hard to cope. This service provides early support and advice and a range of help designed to address those early fears and struggles.

“Being there early means preventing longer term issues which can have a devastating impact on a young person’s life.”

The early intervention service will form part of the THRIVE framework within Wiltshire.

THRIVE is an integrated, person-centred, and needs-led approach to delivering mental health services for children, young people and families.

Val Scrase, regional director at HCRG Care Group, said: “Our purpose is to change people’s lives by transforming health and care, and the children, young people and
their families that we work with are at the centre of everything we do.

“We’re delighted to have this opportunity to support more children and young people to get the right support, at the right time and go on to live happier, healthier lives.”