The Croft Child and Family Unit

Specialist mental health care for children and their families

Information for referring agencies

Established in Cambridge for more
than 30 years, the Croft Child and
Family Unit is the only unit in the
UK offering specialist in-patient
and day-patient mental health
treatment for children under 12
years old, their parents and
siblings - a whole family approach,
alongside an integrated
educational programme.
We provide care and treatment for
children who have:
l complex developmental or
psychiatric disorders
l severe emotional and/or behavioural
problems
We work intensely with family
members as well as children to ensure
that beneficial change is achieved
quickly - the average length of
in-patient care is six weeks.
Why refer to the Croft?
The comprehensive in-depth
assessment helps us to understand the
complex difficulties of each individual
child and family so that:
l we build the best care plan
l we provide care in the best possible
environment
l we achieve the best possible
outcome for the child and their
family
Early intervention for children in
difficulty is crucial to preventing
further deterioration. We aim to
respond in a timely and flexible way.
We have particular expertise in the
assessment and treatment of children
with complex neurodevelopmental
syndromes (such as autism spectrum
disorders) alongside severe emotional
and behavioural difficulties.
Who can refer to the Croft?
We have an open referral system.
Most referrals come from specialist
NHS clinicians. Subject to agreed
funding, we are also able to receive
referrals from:
l primary care and community health
services
l social workers
l special education services
l acute paediatric services
We welcome visitors to the unit and
are happy to provide additional
information about the service or to
discuss possible referrals.
Dr Jo Holmes
Consultant Child Psychiatrist
T 01223 885800
E joanne.holmes@cpft.nhs.uk
March 2011

As well as intensive specialist mental

health assessment and in-patient
treatment, we can also offer extended
care packages including home-based
engagement work before admission
and outreach support after discharge
to consolidate therapeutic progress.
Throughout their care, children and
families are supported by a care
co-ordinator.

Many children at the Croft have very

significant educational problems. We
have an integrated educational
programme and all children attend the
daily education sessions - enabling us
to assess educational needs and
initiate educational re-integration for
children who have been out of school.
Our unique extended care service
provides flexible and high-quality
intensive specialist support for
children, their families and other
agencies who are involved in the
child’s care.
Children and their families are resident We do not provide services for
at the Croft in-patient unit Monday - children whose needs can be met by
Friday and return home at weekends. community child and adolescent
mental services.
We also provide a day service for local
children and families who do not
require 24-hour treatment or
observation.

Our approach Evidence-based care Treatment modalities:

Following referral we contact the
family to start the initial assessment.
Our wide range of assessment and
therapeutic approaches encompasses:
l Complex autistic spectrum disorders
l Attachment disorders
l Severe behavioural disorders
including aggression and violence
l Depression and self harm
l Eating and feeding disorders
l Parental mental disorder and family
dysfunction
l Psychosomatic disorders
l Other neurodevelopmental disorders
- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity
Disorder (ADHD), tic, etc
l Parenting capacity
l Medically unexplained symptoms
We use specialist, evidence-based
assessment tools:
l Psychiatric assessment of
development and mental health
family dynamics
l Behavioural analysis
l Structured assessments for autistic
spectrum disorders – the Autism
Diagnostic Observation Schedule
(ADOS) and Autism Diagnostic
Interview (ADI)
l Cognitive assessment of learning
capacity - Wechsler Intelligence Scale
for Children (WISC), Wechsler
Pre-school and Primary School scale
of Intelligence (WIPPSI), memory, etc
l Education needs (as they relate to
mental health disorder)
l Attachment style in younger children
l Intensive family therapy
l Groups (both for parents and
children)
l Milieu/community therapy
l Educational rehabilitation
l Attachment therapies (watch, wait
and wonder and Mellow Parenting)
l Intensive behavioural therapy
l Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
l Individual and dyadic music therapy
l Medication
l Psychoeducation
l Therapeutic child counselling
l Refeeding and intensive nutritional
support for children with severe
eating disorders

How to refer Dr Jo Holmes For urgent referrals

We encourage direct contact to Consultant Child Psychiatrist Telephone and/or fax relevant details.
discuss potential referrals. Or
Sharon Kenny
Address all referrals to: Clinical Nurse Specialist

The Croft Child and Family Unit

Ida Darwin, Fulbourn
Cambridge CB21 5EE
T 01223 885800
F 01223 885801

HQ Elizabeth House, Fulbourn Hospital, Cambridge CB21 5EF.

T 01223 726789
F 01480 398501

www.cpft.nhs.uk