First Steps

What we do:

  • First steps is a Community Psychology and Early Intervention service for children, young people and their families who have mild to moderate mental health problems. The service includes:
  • -Early access to a mental health service for mild to moderate psychological problems
  • -A range of individual and group interventions
  • -Evidence based interventions, parent group interventions and transition to adult services via 16/17 year old IAPT pathway
  • -Mental health promotion and teaching, training and consultation to frontline professionals working with children and young people
  • -Development of projects which support and empower parents and community groups
  • -Quick Steps pathway for emerging self-harm, depression and anxiety
  • -WAMHS

Who is eligible?

  • -Aged 0-18 years
  • -With mild to moderate mental health difficulties
  • -With a GP in City & Hackney
  • -Where the legally responsible parent/guardian has given consent for referral
  • -Who have psychological difficulties which are likely to be helped by a short-term psychological intervention not requiring MDT involvement *
  • * First Steps are unable to accept referrals for families who are currently open to Children’s Social Care 

Contact information:

  • Hackney Ark,  Downs Park Road,  London  E8 2FP
  • Daily duty number: 020 7014 7135
  • 9am – 5pm  Monday to Friday
  • huh-tr.FirstSteps@nhs.net

How to refer to our service:

  • Professionals supporting families such as GP, school staff or Family Support Practitioners can refer using the SPA Referral Form available via the website: https://cityandhackneycamhs.org.uk/professionals
  • Once completed, email the referral form to huh-tr.camhs-spa@nhs.net
  • You can also call 020 7014 7079 to contact SPA team by phone (9am-5pm)