Community Eating Disorder Service (CEDS)

Previously, most children and young people with an eating disorder were seen within our community Healthy Young Minds Service. However, research has shown dedicated community based services for eating disorders achieve better outcomes. The Community Eating Disorders Service is part of our existing community based Healthy Young Mind Service.

It aims to enhance the care and treatment that has previously been available by offering the following benefits:

• Earlier identification and support.
• Intensive community based treatment.
• Co-management of inpatient admissions (working with hospital based child and adolescent mental health staff).
• Extending care and treatment to young people aged up to 18 years across all boroughs.

The service offers children and young people a full assessment and National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) approved care, advice and treatment. The service will:

• Continue to provide urgent home based treatment for young people aged under 16 years. This includes interventions such as meal time support.
• Begin to offer enhanced planned home based treatment for young people aged under 16 years.
• Begin to take over the care of young people aged 17 years from the core Healthy Young Minds Service. Significant planning will go into the transition of their care, to ensure it is smooth, joined up and does not have a negative impact on young people’s progress. The process will be undertaken in partnership with young people, along with their families or carers where appropriate.
• Begin to deliver support sessions and workshops to young people aged 14 years and above – along with their families and carers, where appropriate. This will focus on topics such as body image, self-esteem, parental support, mindfulness and relaxation.
• Offer bespoke training to those who work with or care for young people. This will be done in partnership with national charity Beat.
• Establish an eating disorders champion in each borough’s core Healthy Young Minds (HYM) Service. This will enable the HYM and CEDS staff to better work together to support the different needs of young people.

If you are aged 16 to 18 years old and have an eating disorder (or a suspected eating disorder) you can refer yourself to the Community Eating Disorders Service. Complete the referral form on our website and email it back to us. A parent, carer or anyone who works with you, or supports you, can also make a referral on your behalf - but they must have your permission first.

If you are under 16 years old and you would like help or support for an eating disorder (or a suspected eating disorder) you will need to be referred to the Healthy Young Minds Service in your borough (formerly known as CAMHS). Only a professional can refer to this service, so please speak to your GP (family doctor) or another professional.