Who we are

The FASS team are part of the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) In Reach team.

We provide specialist consultation to professionals, and assessment and interventions with parent(s)/carer(s), where the child is on a Child Protection Plan and are open to a Local Authority safeguarding team.

We aim to support parents to:

• Enhance parent-child relationships.
• Better attune and attend to the needs of their child or children.
• Promote secure attachment.
• Prevent family breakdown.

Our team comes from a range of backgrounds. We are informed by attachment and trauma theory and practice. We are trained in Mentalization Based Therapy (MBT).

The process

Following consultation with professionals, families may be offered a direct assessment, for suitability for direct intervention. The assessment process includes:

• A 90-minute online appointment with the parent(s) or carer(s).
• An hourlong home visit with the parent(s) or carer(s) and the child or children.
• An appointment with parent(s) or carer(s) to complete questionnaire measures.
• A 60-minute assessment with the parent(s) or carer(s).
• An appointment two weeks later to discuss the report.

All appointment dates are agreed at the start of assessment. We aim to complete the assessment process within three months.

Based on the assessment, the team decides whether Mentalization Based Therapy (MBT) with the parent(s) or carer(s) would be beneficial.

What is MBT?

‘Mentalization’ refers to the ability to reflect on, and understand our own state of mind, and how it differs from others.

Mentalizing is about having insight into why we are feeling a certain way. The capacity to recognise and understand our own emotions and the emotions of others is an important part of the Parent-Child relationship. In this way, mentalizing can help you see yourself and your child through their eyes.

Mentalization begins in childhood between the interactions of caregiver(s) and child. By experiencing trusting and understanding relationships, children learn to feel secure.

When caregivers can respond more accurately to their child’s state of mind, the child learns to understand their own mind and emotions more clearly. They are less likely to feel overwhelmed because they can trust their caregiver(s) understand them and know how to help.

If parents have experienced inconsistent, chaotic, and traumatic early lives, where they have not felt understood by their own caregivers, they may find it harder to make accurate guesses about what their child may be thinking or feeling. Learning more about mentalizing can be helpful with this.

How to contact us

Email: wiltshirecamhsinreach@oxfordhealth.nhs.uk

Bath and North East Somerset

FASS (CAMHS In Reach)
Temple House
Temple Court
Keynsham
BS31 1HA

Phone: 01865 903 889

Wiltshire

FASS (CAMHS In Reach)
Melksham Community Hospital
Spa Road
Melksham
SN12 7NZ

Phone: 01865 903 777

Healthcare records

The information of parent(s) or carer(s) will be recorded on electronic healthcare records whilst they are involved with our service, under data protection and GDPR guidelines.