FAQs
- Horizon Suicide Prevention - supporting children at risk of suicide or self-harm
- Horizon Intervention - supporting children with SEND and difficulties attending education
- MAMHET - bringing services together to plan support for children at risk of suicide and/or self harm
Who is the Horizon Service for?
Horizon Service supports children and families where there are concerns about emotional wellbeing or mental health and where they are already working with West Sussex County Council's Children's Services. We also work closely with professionals to ensure children receive the right support at the right time.
What does the Horizon Service Offer?
We offer a range of support through different teams, including:
Can families refer directly to you?
Referrals are usually made by professionals (such as social care or schools for children elligible for MAMHET) to ensure the right support is put in place. If you are worried about your child, you can speak to your child’s school, GP, or social worker.
Will my child be seen directly?
In some situations, children may receive direct, one-to-one support from a Horizon worker. Often, we work by supporting the professionals already involved to make sure your child gets the best possible help.
How do you support children who are in crisis?
We work with the people around your child to understand what is happening, assess risk, and develop safety plans. Our aim is to make sure children feel supported and safe, with clear plans in place.
How do you work with schools?
We work closely with schools to help them support children’s emotional wellbeing. This includes advice, planning, and working together through partnerships like MAMHET to make sure support is coordinated.
Do you diagnose conditions or complete EHCPs?
We do not carry out diagnoses or complete EHCP assessments. However, we can contribute to these processes and support families and professionals with guidance.
How do you involve families?
Families are central to the support we provide. We work alongside parents and carers to understand their child’s needs and help them feel confident in supporting their child at home.
What should I do if I am worried about my child?
If you are concerned about your child’s safety or wellbeing, speak to a professional you trust, such as your child’s school, GP, or social worker. If there is an immediate risk, you should contact emergency services.
Is the Horizon Service the same as CAMHs?
No, Horizon is not the same as CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services), but we work closely alongside them. We do not replace any mental health or emotional based service in the area which support children through referrals into the SPOA (Single Point of Access).
Horizon provides support for understanding children’s emotional wellbeing and mental health, often helping earlier or alongside other services. We focus on supporting families, schools, and professionals, and in some cases offer direct work with children.
CAMHS is a specialist health service that usually supports children with more complex or clinical mental health needs. If needed, we can help professionals and families understand when CAMHS support may be appropriate and how to access it.
Our aim is to make sure children receive the right support, at the right time, from the right service.