Single Point of Access
What is the Single Point of Access?
An additional level of support and intervention for mental health and wellbeing is available through the Single Point of Access for some children and young people where specific need has been identified through the Child’s Planning process.
The Single Point of Access (SPA) offers a way to access a number of services who support the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people such as counselling, bereavement support, art therapy and mental health youth work.
Requests for Assistance (RfA) sent to the SPA by professionals, will be discussed at a meeting with a range of professionals (known as the Triage Team) who will offer advice, support and interventions.
The triage team meet every 2 weeks to assess new RfA and decide which would be the appropriate support for the individual child or young person.
The triage team is made up of representatives from:
ELC Children's Services
ELC Occupational Therapy
ELC Mental Health Youth Work Service
NHS Art Therapies
NHS Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS)
MYPAS (Counselling Service)
Request for Assistance
An additional level of support is available through the Single Point of Access for some children and young people where specific need has been identified through a wellbeing assessment.
In line with the Child's Planning Framework there is an expectation that all universal supports and intervention's will have been put in place before a request is made.
Our expectation is that Requests for Assistance will generally be made through schools, as this allows us to gather relevant information. In instances where a young person is not in school or have other professionals involved who would like to request assistance, please contact: cypspa@eastlothian.gov.uk
(only authorised persons can access the RfA form on this site)
Need advice?
If you are worried about the mental health and wellbeing of a child or young person and want some advice on whether a request would be beneficial please please contact your School's Mental Health Youth Worker. They can offer a wellbeing check with children and young people, signpost to supports and request assistance through the Single Point of Access, if necessary.
What happens after I send in a RfA?
The form is saved securely and shared with the triage team
The triage team meet monthly
Sometimes the Triage Team may need more information about the child or young person before making a decision on what support will be offered - in this case a member of the team will be in touch to seek additional information.