Single Point of Access (SPA)
Single Point of Access (SPA) are the assessment services which receive the referrals and are the first point of contact with CAMHS.
Part of the SPA process is that all referrals are screened, and risk rated within a target of 24 hours. These waiting times reflect the average time from referral to the first meaningful contact (I.e. assessment, either by telephone, face to face, or e-consultation). As these times are averages you may be seen sooner or later than the times given.
Please note, these wait times incorporate the time waited for Neurodevelopmental screening questionnaires being returned from parents/carers and schools, which impacts on the reported average waiting time figures.