Eating Disorders team stay ahead of the game to meet young people’s health needs
Until very recently, little was understood about the condition known as avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder, or ARFID. It was only named in 2013, yet it's a disorder that's affecting children and young people in ever growing numbers.
But thanks to NHFT's Children and Young People's Community Eating Disorders Service (CEDS), specialist support for ARFID in Northamptonshire is already well established, with treatment available for children and young people aged 5 to 18.
CEDS is a team of around 35 healthcare professionals (plus one therapy dog!) based at The Brambles in Northampton, with clinic appointments also offered in Corby, Kettering and Wellingborough. Today, those with ARFID make up more than a quarter of the team's overall caseload as they work to provide specialist assessment, treatment and support for young people with eating disorders countywide.
CEDS Team Lead Lisa-Marie Waples said: ARFID numbers have really exploded in the past few years and we're assessing around 10 children every week for ARFID in an average week. It's only quite recently that it's been formally commissioned as an NHS service but we've managed to stay ahead of the game by having a robust service already in place. This is a great example of how we try to be as responsive as we can in our support for service users.
Another example of how the CEDS team is actively developing more responsive ways of working is by engaging with service users, parents and carers to review the letters the service regularly sends to patients. This has ensured language in the letters is appropriate and easy for families to understand - and work is also under way to follow a similar approach of co-production with care plans for service users.
Therapy dog Sipho is part of the Brambles furniture!
He's only three years old and he can't talk - but one member of the Community Eating Disorders team is so popular he needs his own calendar to manage his time.
Sipho the therapy labradoodle is a familiar sight to anyone visiting the Brambles. He's always ready at the door with a friendly greeting and is available on request to join young people at their appointments, helping to keep them calm and relaxed at a time when they may be feeling nervous or worried.
Sipho's owner, Clinical Nurse Specialist Bronwyne Stott, says: "The patients absolutely love him! He's been with us at the Brambles since he was only eight weeks old, so it's very much his second home here. We always make sure people are okay with him when they arrive and as he's non-shedding he's considered to be hypoallergenic too, so safer around people with allergies.
"He will sit on the floor in clinics and the young people will often want to sit with him. He's even got his own calendar so people can book him for things like walk-and-talk sessions. The staff love him too - he sits in on our team meetings and he's definitely got his favourites!"
Feedback on the Community Eating Disorders team
"Thank you for your kindness and love. You are all amazing!"
"Thank you for all the work you put in to lead me to recovery - a great team that has made my road much easier."
"Your support and understanding has been invaluable in [my child]'s recovery and I'm truly grateful."
"You've been here through it all and you've made me see the light at the end of the tunnel."