Eating Disorders (ED)

Who we are

We are a specialist CAMHS Eating Disorders (ED) team in Buckinghamshire, working with children and young people who are registered with a GP in the Buckinghamshire area. We support young people and their families from the earlier signs of concern through to more serious or complex eating difficulties.  

Our team consists of psychologists, psychiatrists, paediatricians, nurses, a dietitian, occupational therapists, family therapists, and administrative staff. We also have access to medical colleagues who can meet with young people to discuss the role of medication in supporting recovery when appropriate.  

What we help with

We provide assessment and treatment for a range of eating disorders, including  Anorexia Nervosa , Bulimia Nervosa and Binge Eating Disorder. Our treatment programmes are evidence-based and tailored to meet the individual needs of young people and their carers. We have a strong focus on collaboration, recovery, and ongoing support. 

Our team works closely with schools and colleges, social care, GPs, paediatrics, other CAMHS teams, and wider health services. We also provide consultation, joint working, and training to other professionals within CAMHS involved in supporting young people who have difficulties with eating. 

Resources

There is lots of information and advice available to support young people and those around them to learn more about eating disorders:  

• Young People 
• Parents 
• Siblings 
• Friends  
• Professionals

What we offer

We provide specialist assessment and treatment for children and young people (up to the age of 18) in Buckinghamshire who are experiencing eating disorders. We work closely with young people and their families to offer early, timely support and aim to restore both physical health and psychological wellbeing in a safe, collaborative way. 

Following referral, young people and their families are invited to attend an eating disorder assessment carried out by our team of different specialists. This helps us understand the difficulties being experienced and agree the most appropriate treatment plan. is usually provided on an outpatient basis and may involve regular individual and family appointments over a period of weeks or months.  

Key worker support

Each young person is allocated a key worker who will oversee their care, provide ongoing support, coordinate input from the wider multidisciplinary team, and arrange regular reviews. Treatment plans are tailored to individual needs and agreed collaboratively at each stage. 

Treatments

We offer a range of evidence-based treatments. These include: 

• Family Therapy for Eating Disorders,  

• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Eating Disorders (CBT-ED),  

• Multi-Family therapy (MFT)  

• Guided Self-Help (where appropriate).  

Treatment may include individual therapeutic work, physical monitoring, family work and specialist dietetic input. At the start of treatment, we can also offer parents and carers support through Parent Skills workshops and Multi-Family Therapy (MFT) programmes. 

Who we help

Our service supports children and young people with eating disorders and their families. We work with young people to understand their difficulties and provide timely, specialist support and treatment. 

The CAMHS Eating Disorder Service in Buckinghamshire is for young people who meet all of the below criteria:  

• Are over the age of 5 and under the age of 18 at the time of referral.  
• Are registered with a GP in Buckinghamshire.  
• Have a suspected or diagnosed eating disorder that is the primary concern requiring specialist support. This includes anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder.  
• Are experiencing emotional, behavioural or physical difficulties relating to eating, weight and shape, where these are causing concern and impacting wellbeing.  

If the eating concerns appear secondary to other mental health concerns that meet CAMHS access criteria then alternative CAMHS support may be offered.

What happens at 18 years old

We work closely with the Buckinghamshire Adult Eating disorder service who support young people once they are 18 years old. When a young person is nearly 18 years old, they may need to transition to adult eating disorder services where they will have a more adult focused treatment.  

Where will my appointments be?

You will be seen for your assessment at one of our CAMHS locations –the majority of the assessments take place at the Sue Nicholls Centre

The Sue Nicholls Centre
Bierton Road
Aylesbury
HP20 1EG

Other locations

Appointments are usually offered face to face in an outpatient clinic setting.  

For some young people, we can offer support in the community via our Hospital at Home Service. This aims to help young people remain at home for treatment and avoid or delay admission to a specialist eating disorder inpatient settings where possible.