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We are a specialist child and adolescent mental health service who support children, young people and their families up to the age of 18 years old experiencing eating disorders.

Our team includes consultant psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, nurses, social workers, occupational therapists, family therapists, dietitians, peer support workers, assistant psychologist, nursing associates, support worker and administrators. The service has focused on delivering timely access to assessment and evidence-based treatment for children and young people with anorexia nervosa and moderate to severe bulimia and binge eating disorder.

We offer specialist, family-based treatments, including Family Therapy for Eating Disorders, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Eating Disorders, and Guided Self-Help. In addition, we can offer a Home Support Provision to allow children and young people to access more intensive support to remain in the community for treatment and avoid or delay admission to specialist eating disorder units and acute hospitals.

Treatment involves specialist eating disorder assessments and participation in planned treatment programmes, including individual work, family work, family meals and from specialist dietetic input. In addition, we offer a parent/carer psycho-education group, a peer-led carer support group and Multi-Family Therapy programme.

We have an open, co-operative and supportive approach, agreeing treatment goals and care plans at each stage. We see people virtually and face to face in our clinics.

Our multi-disciplinary community team works closely with education, social services, other health and CAMHS teams, as well as advice, joint working and training with other professionals.

Online Peer-led Parent and Carer Support Group

We are a group of parents with lived experience of supporting our young people with their eating disorder. We understand the range of emotions a parent or carer may feel among the noise of the eating disorder. Lost, powerless, helpless, angry and alone; to name a few.

We’re all at different stages post-discharge from Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services, giving us a range of experience and insight that can be used within the group to support parents and carers and give hope.

The group

The group is run twice a month – the first Monday and third Thursday each month from 7pm-8pm – to provide a safe space for parents and carers to ask questions, share their thoughts and feelings, and gain insight from the lived experience parents, as well as each other.

What to expect

Each week we will ask the same three questions:

• How are you?
• How are things going?
• Do you have a question you’d like to ask?

These three questions relate to you as a parent or carer; to ensure you have a moment to be heard, to feel supported, and to get your questions answered. It’s vital to remember that you’re important, too. The lived experience parents will facilitate the group and a member of the CAMHS team will accompany in case they are needed.

You do not have to attend every session; some people may want to join every one, some may only join when they’re looking for an answer to their question. Either is OK.

Aims of the group

Whilst no two people are going to experience the group in exactly the same way, there is likely to be common themes. Parents and carers may:

• Feel supported.
• Feel less isolated.
• Feel understood.
• Feel reassured.
• Feel heard.
• Feel more in control.
• Feel able to express their thoughts and emotions.
• Feel their questions have been answered.
• Feel safe to share.

We have a leaflet full of parent and carer testimonials provided by the CPFT Adult Eating Disorders Online Carer Support Group, which is the inspiration for this group. We’d recommend you read this to gain insight into carers who share their thoughts on how valuable support groups like this can be. We look forward to seeing you.

Remember, there’s no shame in struggle.

One-day workshop: Parents' and Carers' Support Group

The Eating Disorder Team is providing a one-day workshop to all parents/carers of young people with an eating disorder or disordered eating. The workshop is run by a range of experienced practitioners. It is particularly helpful for those who are newly assessed or have been in the service for less than six months.  

You will be invited to one of our one-day workshops.  

• Location: The Newtown Centre, Nursery Rd, Huntingdon PE29 3RJ
• Time: 9:30am-2:30pm.
• Parking: There is a small on-site car park however this does become busy. There is off-street parking on nearby streets - Priory road and Hartford Road. 

Refreshments will be provided - however, please bring your own lunch. Alternatively, there is a local supermarket five minutes away. There is a small on-site car park, as well as off-street parking available on nearby streets - Priory road and Hartford Road. If you have any accessibility needs, please let us know on 01480 or e-mail CPFT-CAMHSEDAdmin@cpft.nhs.uk. 

What to expect

The workshop follows an evidence-based program of different topics. It has been designed to provide information about eating disorders and answer any questions you may have. The group allows you to meet other parents and carers going through similar struggles, and to share any experiences, thoughts, and feelings in a safe and accepting environment. Note there is no expectation to share more than you feel comfortable with. During the day, we hope you will get to meet parents / people with lived experience of an eating disorder, where you can ask questions.

Topics include:

• Understanding eating disorders
• How eating disorders affect the family and using your strengths
• Understanding the stages of change
• Effective communication and managing distress
• Effective meal planning
• Understanding what keeps the eating disorder going.

Aims of the group are to:

• Increase your understanding and knowledge of eating disorders.
• Increase your skills and confidence in managing difficult eating behaviours and emotions.
• Improve adherence with meal plans and helping to overcome obstacles.
• Provide support for parents.

 

Recommended websites

• B-eat  - information and help on all aspects of eating disorders, including Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, binge eating disorder and related eating disorders
• Carers Direct (NHS)  - carers support and information online and on freephone 0808 802 0202
• Carers Trust  - improving support, services and recognition for anyone living with the challenges of caring, unpaid, for a family member or friend who is ill, frail, disabled or has mental health or addiction problems
• Family Voice  - actively seeking to improve services in all areas of the lives of children and young people in Peterborough
• Pinpoint Cambridgeshire
• Talk to Frank  - free confidential advice
• RCPSYCH  - mental health information for all
• Choice and Medication  - find out more about mental health conditions, treatments and medications
• Rethink
• https://www.caringtogether.org/
• ARFID Awareness UK
• Home - F.E.A.S.T.
• Anorexia and other eating disorders: how to help your child eat well and be well. Book, videos, coaching/counselling. Eva Musby
• The New Maudsley Approach – A resource for professionals and carers of people with eating disorders
• PEACE Pathway - Home
• Young Carers Online Referral Form - Centre 33