Arrow ImageAcute, PICU and Rapid Response

Working together with young people and their families

Our CAMHS is a Trauma Informed Care Service, ensuring that everything we do is driven by an understanding of how trauma affects the whole person; physically, mentally and socially. We provide low and medium secure Tier 4 CAMHS inpatient services, with the objective of enabling young people to live well and to their full potential in the least restrictive environment possible.

Our Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) are designed for boys and girls aged 13 to 18 with complex mental disorders, severe emotional and behavioural difficulties, intellectual disabilities, mental illness and autistic spectrum disorders. Our ethos, is to provide person-centered care which addresses young people’s mental health needs as well as their functional, cognitive, emotional, social, communication, sensory and vocational needs.

Located centrally in Northampton, Smyth House provides bespoke programmes of care and treatment, delivered by a comprehensive on-site MDT. The service also includes St Andrew’s College, rated ‘Good' by Ofsted and 'Outstanding' in Behaviours and Attitudes in 2021.

Our Trauma Informed Model of Care

We believe that young people should have a choice about their treatment and that they should be fully informed of their options. Wherever possible families should also be involved in their child's treatment .

Treatment and care

All treatments and therapeutic interventions are needs-led, individual, and based on the outcomes of a comprehensive and ongoing assessment process for each young person.

The four main areas of focus are:

1. Mental health recovery and reducing risk: including DBT, CBT, offence-related therapy, family interventions and medication optimisation

2. Improved physical wellbeing: including self-care, weight management, sports and exercise therapy, physiotherapy

3. Maximising independence: including vocational pathways, animal therapy and incremental increases in responsibility

4. Achieving full potential and meaningful outcomes: including social work interventions and spiritual care

Our location

TV lounge

TV lounge in Smyth House

Therapy kitchen

Therapy spaces include a therapy kitchen, a quiet room and areas for art and music. Here, young people are able to develop both life and vocational skills

Smyth reception

Smyth reception

Dining room milkshake picture

Dining room

Corridor with calm picture

Calm spaces with inspirational quotes

Quiet lounge

A relaxing quiet room

Young people talk about mental healthcare

In 2016 we released the short film ‘In Our Own Words’ - a unique, patient-centric insight into inpatient care within St Andrew’s Healthcare's CAMHS service. 

Espresso Yourself - Wellbeing cafes for young people

Crisis cafe image amendedIf you are struggling with your mental health or find yourself in crisis Northamptonshire Healthcare (NHFT) working alongside St Andrew's, Lowdown and YouthWorks, offer weekly cafes for young people living in Northamptonshire between the ages of 11 to 18 years to drop-in and talk to a mental health professional in a safe space. Staff will be on hand to help by providing advice, support or signposting to relevant teams or organisations. There is no need to call or book, locations and timings can all be found on the NHFT website HERE.

You can come along to the crisis cafes by yourself, with a friend or a family member - and you'll find a safe space where you can share how you feel.