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Early intervention children and young people mental health service
Children and young people’s mental health service working with 0–19-year-olds who are registered with a GP in Hertfordshire.
Types of intervention
• Brief, goal-focused interventions to those who have mild to moderate mental health difficulties which are causing distress and impacting on day-to-day life.
• Group or One-to-one interventions depending on the nature of young people’s difficulties.
• Parent/child or infant relationship focused work using strengths and evidence-based approaches to promote emotional health and wellbeing for infants and young children.
Some of our therapeutic approaches:
• Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT)
• Creative Therapies
• Video Interaction Guidance (VIG)
• Video Intervention to Promote Positive Parenting and Sensitive Discipline (VIPP-SD)
• Circle of Security Parenting (CoS-P)
Contact the service
The service operates on Mondays to Fridays between 9am and 5pm.
We will always aim to be professional, fair and respectful. In return, NHS staff have the right to have safe working conditions free from harassment, bullying and violence, to be treated fairly, equally and free from discrimination.
Please note that we are not an emergency service, please contact NHS 111 or emergency services in these circumstances.
Please call us on 01438 730 570 or email hct.step2@nhs.net.
Main Clinic:
Starfish House
3 North Road
Stevenage
SG1 4AT
- Address: Starfish House 3 North Road Stevenage SG1 4AT, Stevenage, SG1 4AT
- Reception hours: Mondays to Fridays between 9am and 5pm
- Reception phone number: 01438 730 570
- How the service is provided
- Who is eligible for the service
- What will happen at your appointment
- Useful information
- Making a referral
- Patient experience
How the service is provided
The service operates on Mondays to Fridays between 9am and 5pm.
We offer appointments during the working/school day.
Our assessments and treatment sessions are offered telephonically, virtually or face-to-face, depending on the need of the child or young person.
Clinics
We have one base at Starfish House and offer some clinics on specific days at other sites throughout Hertfordshire.
Bedford Road Health Centre, Bedford Road, Hitchin, SG5 1HF
Tel: 01462 427 100. There is only disabled parking available at the centre - there are a number of pay and display car parks a short distance away.
Bowling Road Clinic, Bowling Road, Ware, SG12 7EF
Tel: 01920 462388
Elstree Way Clinic, Elstree Way, Borehamwood, WD6 1JY (for treatment sessions only).
Tel: 020 83598500
The Marlowes Health and Wellbeing Centre, 39-41 Marlowes, Hemel Hempstead, HP1 1LD.
Tel: 01442 913569. There is limited parking - there are a number of pay and display car parks a short distance away.
Peace Children’s Centre, Peace Prospect, Watford, WD17 3EW.
Tel: 01923 470600. Free parking is available on-site.
Starfish House, 3 North Road, Stevenage, SG1 4AT.
Tel: 01438 730 570. Free parking is available on-site.
Waltham Cross Health Clinic, Stanhope Road, Waltham Cross, EN8 7DJ (for treatment sessions only).
Tel: 01992 818500
Who is eligible for the service
Children and young people between 0 – 19 years old with a mild to moderate mental health difficulty.
Parent/carer-infant relationship/attachment difficulties.
Registered with Hertfordshire GP
Please refer to our referral criteria in the “Making a Referral” section for more information.
What will happen at your appointment
Assessment
Attended by child/young person and at least one parent/carer.
We will ask you a number of questions:
• Difficulties you are experiencing
• How things are in the family
• How school is going
• Any ideas you have about what makes your difficulties worse or better
• How your difficulties have developed over time
• How you would like things to be different (your goals)
• You will also complete outcome measures to help us in finding you the best support.
If the assessment information shows that our service is not the best support, we will provide you with information with the most relevant services to support you.
If our service is the best support for you, you will be offered either one-to-one or group interventions.
You will be provided with a Next Steps Leaflet indicating what was discussed.
One-to One intervention
• These treatment sessions will be with the child/young person and their parent/carer, dependent on the need. This will be discussed together with your clinician.
• These sessions will be offered by one allocated clinician, either by telephone, online or face-to-face, dependent on need.
• These sessions are goal-focused and time-limited.
Group intervention
• These sessions will be with other children/young people who are experiencing similar difficulties and are of similar ages.
• Sometimes it can feel worrying to attend a group but our clinicians are experienced in helping you to feel comfortable.
• Parent/carer attendance will be discussed before the sessions commence.
• These sessions are goal-focused and time-limited.
Interventions for parent / carers
The Step2 clinicians offer parent/child or infant relationship focused work using strengths and evidence based approaches to promote emotional health and wellbeing for infants and children. Interventions offered include 1:1 and group approaches.
Useful information
We understand that sometimes people can’t get to their appointments. However, missed appointments cost us approximately £150 and contribute to our long waiting times. Please note that if you miss an appointment then you will lose that session. If you miss two appointments you will be discharged from the Step2 service.
Occasionally we will ask to record sessions to support your interventions and / or our development. We will discuss this with you if appropriate.
Information for children and young-people about mental health and wellbeing
Other organisations
Mental Health Support in Hertfordshire
Making a referral
Referrals can be made by school or any other health professional, for instance GP, school nurse, health visitor etc.
- Step2 0-5 referral form
- Step2 6-19 referral form
- CYP Autism ADHD Parent Carer Questionnaire Herts
- ENHT CYP Autism ADHD Complete Referral Form
- Parent Carer guidance for making autism and ADHD referrals for CYP in Hertfordshire
- Guidance criteria for referring to CAMHS Step2 (under 5s)
- Guidance criteria for referring to CAMHS Step2 (5 - 19-year-olds)
- School Education Setting Guidance for Making Autism and ADHD Referrals for CYP in Hertfordshire
- CYP Autism ADHD School Educational Setting Questionnaire Herts
Mental Health Referrals
Self-Referrals can be made by any parent/carer, or young person who is 16 years and older.
Professional Referrals can be made by school or any other health professional, for instance GP, school nurse, health visitor etc.
Completed forms should be sent directly to hct.step2referrals@nhs.net
ADHD Referrals
Where possible please complete and return the forms electronically.
CYP Autism ADHD Parent Carer Questionnaire Herts
CYP Autism ADHD School Educational Setting Questionnaire Herts
We complete pre-screening for South and West Herts only.
Please read the guidance carefully.
Completed forms should be sent directly to hct.step2referrals@nhs.net
Patient experience
We are keen to seek feedback on your experience of the service. You can do this by speaking to your clinician, calling the clinic on 01438 730 570 or by emailing hct.step2@nhs.net.
We also consult with young people and their families about service developments
We also consult with young people and their families about service developments through collaboration groups. If you would be interested in being consulted then please also email or call us.
Please complete a survey of your experience by scanning the QR Code:
We also consult with young people and their families about service developments through collaboration groups. If you would be interested in being consulted then please also email or call us.
Please complete a survey of your experience by scanning the QR Code:
If you would like to share your story or speak to the Trust about your experience of the service, please contact the Patient Experience team on 01707 388036 or email hct.patientexperienceteam@nhs.net
Recent comments from our survey include:
“Thank you very much for my CBT sessions and all the help you have given me. It has helped me a lot and made a real difference”.
“The clinician who phoned was lovely and listened and answered all questions”.
“It helps with understanding and techniques”.
“I felt I was listened to and questioned in a way that was helpful. I felt my views were valued and although this meant that Step2 would not be able to provide a service on this occasion I fully understood why”.
“My daughter’s anxiety surrounding vomit is so much better after her sessions, I would definitely recommend this service to any of my friends/family”.
“Great service if the young people attending are at early stages of understanding and dealing with anxiety. The outcome was decided jointly. Felt time was given to listen and hear what the difficulties are. Appreciated that appropriate suggestions were made for future support”.
If you would like to share your story or speak to the Trust about your experience of the service, please contact the Patient Experience team on 01707 388036 or email hct.patientexperienceteam@nhs.net
Thank you to all the young people and parents/carers who gave up their time to support us in the development of this webpage.
