Children and Young People’s Psychological Services (CYPPS) is a secondary level specialist service, that accepts referrals for children and young people (aged 4 to 18th birthday) presenting with moderate to severe psychological difficulties.

We are a team of clinical psychologists, specialist psychological therapists and assistant psychologists that offer specialist psychological assessment and therapeutic intervention for the child, young person and/or their parents or carers.

Being a specialist secondary level service means that we require families to have undertaken a primary level intervention prior to a request for involvement from CYPPS, for example courses via Spring North (ASD) or ADHD North West, Early Help assessment (previously referred to as CAF), mental health support teams in school or school counsellors. Where the psychological presentation is severe with high impact and a specialist therapeutic offer is indicated, then CYPPS East may offer an initial assessment without a first line intervention, e.g. clear post-traumatic stress or severe OCD presentation.

How to access

We accept referrals directly from medics, school nurses, social workers, educational psychologists and other professionals using our referral form. To request a referral form please email CYPPSEast@lscft.nhs.uk.

CYPPS do not accept self-referrals.  

Appointments are offered as telephone, video calls or face to face at The Mount in Accrington. Interpreters are available as needed.

Contact us

CYPPS is based at The Mount, Whalley Road, Accrington, BB5 5DE. Our admin team telephone number is 01254 226480.

  • Emotional difficulties resulting in significant psychological distress (anxiety, panic, phobias, low mood, obsessive-compulsive difficulties).
  • Complex relationship difficulties (attachment difficulties, developmental trauma and separation issues).
  • Impact of adverse life events (post-traumatic stress, complex trauma, traumatic grief).
  • Management of severe behavioural difficulties (poor emotional regulation, non-compliance, oppositional behaviour. Complex issues with sleep, toileting, eating habits).
  • Complex psychological difficulties that have been resistant to previous alternative intervention (consider a psychological consultation with the clinical team to discuss options: 01254 226480).
  • Neurodevelopmental conditions where there are additional psychological difficulties over and above those expected for that condition (autistic spectrum condition, acquired brain injury, tics, Tourette’s).

CYPPS are not commissioned to work with the following presenting difficulties and these should be referred to other services.

  • Moderate to severe mental health disorders (concerns re psychosis, eating disorders, severe low mood or anxiety. Refer to Early Intervention or Eating Disorder Services or ELCAS – Child Psychiatry).
  • Recent and/or active deliberate self-harm and/or suicidal ideation or attempts to end own life (contact IRS 0800 013 0708 or ELCAS 01282 804806).
  • Persistent and severe conduct difficulties i.e. criminal behaviour (fire setting, absconding, stealing, other criminal activity. Consider Early Help referral or Youth Justice support).
  • Sexually exploitative behaviour or extreme sexualised behaviour (sexual abuse or grooming of others. Preoccupation with sexual interests or behaviour inappropriate to developmental stage. Access alternative services).
  • Substance misuse (alcohol, illegal drug use and use of legal highs. Access alternative services).
  • Difficulties which are predominantly school-based in the absence of significant difficulties at home (attendance issues, learning or behavioural problems in school. Access school-based services).
  • Moderate or severe learning disability (children with an EHCP that states they have a moderate or severe learning disability. Access dedicated child learning disability services).
  • Sensory processing difficulties (sensory integration assessment and intervention are not within the competence of CYPPS).

CYPPS cannot offer an urgent response and is not an emergency or crisis service. CYPPS do not prescribe medication.

Other services that can be contacted include:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What happens after a request for involvement?

After a request for involvement has been accepted, parents/carers or the young person if they are 16 years plus are invited to attend an initial assessment appointment. This initial assessment appointment usually takes place online by video consultation but face to face can be arranged if needed.

At this appointment, we share information about our service, discuss the reason for the child or young person’s (CYP) referral and decide whether we are the best service to meet the family’s needs. If we decide together that a psychological intervention with our service is right for the family at that time, the CYP is added to our waiting list. Families will receive either a check-in call or access to brief interventions where appropriate whilst they wait. When the CYP comes to the top of the waiting list, the allocated clinician will contact the parents/carers or young person by telephone to review concerns and agree next steps.

Following our assessment, we might decide with families that a specific psychological intervention could be beneficial.

Specific psychological interventions that we can offer include:

  • Video Interaction Guidance (VIG)
  • Theraplay
  • Parent Child Game (PCG)
  • Family Therapy
  • Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
  • Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR)
  • Art Therapy
  • Reflective Parenting
  • Interpersonal Psychotherapy for Adolescents (IPT-A)
  • Dyadic and Developmental Psychotherapy (DDP)

Expectations of families accessing our service

The clinical team at Children and Young People’s Psychological Services want to be able to see all our children, young people and their parents or carers as quickly as possible and to be as helpful as we can once we are working together. Therefore it is essential that families can commit to regular attendance at all appointments arranged to achieve positive outcomes.