North East London NHS Foundation Trust logo

Background and aims

The North East London NHS Foundation Trust (NELFT) introduced the young people home treatment team (YPHTT) due to closures of the trust’s tier 4 child and adolescent mental health service (CAMHS) Brookside unit. The Brookside inpatient unit closed for refurbishment but was reopened after 3 months. The YPHTT was developed as part of a service model review at this time as part of a transformation project of the whole inpatient and crisis service offered by Brookside.

The NELFT aimed to offer 24 hour crisis provision, increasing scope for positive risk taking, and to treat young people in the least restrictive environment possible.


Solution

The YPHTT was created to work alongside the Brookside inpatient wards, and allowed Brookside to offer tier 4 CAMHS provision in homes, therefore acting as a bridge between inpatient services and community services. 

The YPHTT covers four London boroughs and is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The service acts to prevent inpatient admission and can facilitate early discharge of young people back into the community.


Outcomes and benefits

Since the YPHTT opened in 2016, outcomes were:

  • Reductions to inpatient admissions
  • Earlier discharge for young people with functional difficulties
  • Reductions in average length of stay
  • A reduction of hospital admissions for young people with emotional dysregulation and self-harm

Additional information

You can find out more about the YPHTT by accessing the NHS Improvement mental health case study page. 

The aim of the ZSA Case Studies is to introduce users to a range of examples of new and innovative practice, with the broad aim of working to support people with their mental health, bring awareness to and help prevent incidence of suicide. Please seek further information by contacting the ZSA and appropriate professional input prior to making a decision over its use.

This content was developed and approved in collaboration with the case study owner. If you would like to update this content, contact us

For more information on ZSA case studies, please refer to ZSA Policies.

Content last updated: 25/11/2022

If you have an example of innovative work and / or good practice that you would like to share with us, please e-mail: Contactus@zerosuicidealliance.nhs.uk