Specialist community mental health services for children and young people
Updated
10 April 2026
Date of assessment: 5, 6 and 7 May 2026
At this assessment we assessed 1 assessment service group: Specialist community mental health services for children and young people.
We assessed all 33 quality statements across the five key questions: safe, effective, caring, responsive, and well-led. The service was last inspected between September and November 2018 and was rated Good. Following this assessment, the rating has remained Good.
Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (CRHFT) North Derbyshire Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) provide specialist community mental health services for children and young people, up to the age of 18, and their families. The trust serves the population of Bolsover, Chesterfield, Derbyshire Dales and North Amber Valley, High Peak and Northeast Derbyshire districts.
Services within North Derbyshire CAMHS were delivered from 3 community hub locations at; New Spring House, Buxton Health Centre; The Crossing Holywell House Annex and Level 2 The Den, Chesterfield Royal Hospital which was the services main site.
Services were delivered by a wide range of specialist clinicians including mental health practitioners, clinical psychologists, child and adolescent psychiatry, advanced nurse practitioners, specialist support workers and clinicians offering Psychological Therapies.
The service provided care and treatment that was safe. The environments we visited were clean, well-maintained, and fit for purpose. Environmental risks, including ligature risks, were effectively identified, assessed, and mitigations were in place. Staff completed comprehensive risk assessments with children and young people and reviewed them regularly.
Care and treatment were consistently delivered in line with national guidance and best practice, to ensure the service achieved consistent outcomes for children and young people. Children, young people, parents and carers had access to a wide range of specialist support tailored to their individual needs. Staff were well trained and supported through supervision and appraisals, which enabled them to deliver high-quality, innovative care. The multidisciplinary team worked effectively together and maintained strong, proactive partnerships with external partners to ensure continuity of care and the best possible outcomes.
Children and young people using the service were treated with kindness, empathy, and respect. Staff actively promoted dignity, independence, and individual choice, ensuring people remained central to, and involved in decisions about their care and treatment. Children and young people told us they felt supported to understand their rights and stay in control of their treatment journey and wellbeing.
There was effective leadership in place. Leaders were visible, supportive, and promoted a positive culture of learning, collaboration, and continuous improvement across the service.
The services offered by North Derbyshire CAMHS were:
Core CAMHS: provided assessment, consultation, liaison, and a range of interventions for children and young people presenting with severe and complex mental health difficulties that could not be supported or treated within early help or targeted community services.
Urgent Care: provided rapid assessment and intensive treatment for children and young people who experienced urgent mental health care needs. Urgent care operated from 08:00 to 22:00 seven days a week 365 days a year, with phonelines open from 10:00. North Derbyshire CAMHS had a 7-day intensive home treatment offer and offered a day service as an alternative to admission to a paediatric or specialist mental health inpatient bed.
Specialist Eating Disorders: provided assessment and treatment for children and young people, and their families, with a primary diagnosis of an eating disorder.
Learning Disabilities CAMHS: provided assessment and treatment for children and young people with a learning disability presenting with severe and complex mental health difficulties.
The service registered with the CQC in 2010 and provides the following regulated activities:
• Assessment or medical treatment for persons detained under the Mental Health Act 1983
• Treatment of disease, disorder or injury
The service had a Nominated Individual.
We visited the following service locations as part of the assessment:
CAMHS Level 2 The Den, Chesterfield Royal Hospital, Chesterfield
CAMHS The Crossing, Holywell House Annex, Chesterfield
CAMHS New Spring House, Buxton Health Centre, Buxton
Mental Health Act Mental Capacity Act Compliance Summary
Staff were trained in and had a good understanding of the Mental Health Act the Code of Practice and the guiding principles. Staff completed training on the Mental Health Act as part of their mandatory training programme.
The service had the relevant policies and procedures that reflected the most recent guidance. Staff had easy access to local and specialist Mental Health Act policies and procedures, these included a policy covering the legal aspects of assessment and treatment of children and young people with a mental health disorder.
Staff had access to administrative support and legal advice on implementation of the Mental Health Act and the Code of Practice. Staff knew how to contact Mental Health Act administrators. Managers ensured that the service applied the Mental Health Act correctly by completing audits and discussing the findings.
Staff consistently assessed children and young people’s capacity under the MCA to make specific decisions using the two-stage test. Gillick competence assessments were used for children and young people under 16 years of age. We found evidence that assessments had been documented thoroughly. When children and young people lacked capacity, staff made decisions in their best interests after consulting the multidisciplinary team, parents, carers and advocates. Staff clearly recorded the rationale, who was consulted, and what options had been considered. Reasonable adjustments were made to support children and young people in understanding and involvement in decision-making, including easy-read materials, interpreters, sign language services and adapted communication methods. Governance of MCA practices were effective, with regular audits of capacity assessments and best-interest decisions. Staff received ongoing training in the MCA, human rights, and equality to ensure decisions upheld children and young people’s rights and dignity.