Children's Clinical Psychology
Children's Clinical Psychology
We provide assessment and psychological help to young people aged 0 -16 and their families/carers.
A young person will usually be referred to clinical psychology because they, or someone else, is concerned about their emotional well-being, their development or their behaviour.
What will happen at your first appointment?
The first time you come to see us, your appointment will usually last about 1 hour 30 minutes (unless it says something else on the letter we send you).
The person who referred you will have told us some information about you and the reasons why they've asked us to see you.
In your first appointment, the psychologist will ask questions to find out more about the difficulties/concerns you are having.
These questions may be about how things are at home, at school or within your family. You and the psychologist will talk together about what the difficulties are and about how we might be able to help.
On this first visit we often speak to you and your parents/carers separately.
Complex behaviour service
The complex behaviour service is a specialist mental health service for children with learning disabilities.
The service provides intensive support in the family home to facilitate behavioural change. Staff work closely with the child’s existing professional networks, and can also provide consultation about children not directly referred to the service.
The team consists of clinical psychologists and specialist learning disability nurses. This is a small team, and referrals will only be accepted if the child and family have already received significant support and advice from specialist professionals.
Referrals can be made by paediatricians, child and adolescent psychiatrists, clinical psychologists and community learning disability nurses.
Contact and find us
Location
Level 1, Children's Hospital
Royal Derby Hospital
DE22 8NE
Contact
Simon Lalonde, Head of Service
Telephone: 01332 785 542
Email: simonlalonde@nhs.net
Information for referrers
Ours is a specialist service which accepts referrals from GPs, hospital and community consultants, social care (only when the family has an allocated social worker), child and adolescent mental health services and psychiatrists, educational psychologists and clinical psychologists.
When you refer to child clinical psychology we need the following information:
- Name
- Date of birth
- Address
- GP
- School and details of other professionals or services involved with the family.
In addition to the reason for referral, any significant family history would be helpful.
The referral must be in writing. We do not accept telephone or email referrals.
All new referrals are discussed at a weekly meeting by senior members of the department.
Every referral will be acknowledged by letter.
You will receive a copy of the first appointment letter and regular updates of progress until discharge.