News

From 1 April, Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust now delivers the children, young people and all age eating disorder services previously provided by North East London NHS Foundation Trust (NELFT). This is in addition to its specialist adult mental health services, which do not change.

This move means - for the first time in Kent and Medway - a single NHS trust will provide support across a person's full range of mental health needs and help create more seamless transitions between services, particularly for young people moving into adult care. 

Sheila Stenson, Chief Executive of Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust, said:“This is a landmark moment for mental health care in Kent and Medway.When mental health support isn't joined up, it can make a difficult time for people feel even harder as they are passed between organisations. By bringing eating disorder, adult and young people's mental health care together in one place, we can start to improve this and create a better patient experience.”

For children and young people, Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust will now provide: 

• mental health assessments, interventions and treatment for young people aged 0-18 years in Kent and 0-19 years in Medway experiencing a range of challenging mental health difficulties.
• diagnostic assessments for neurodevelopmental conditions such as Autism or ADHD.

• Eating disorder services for people aged 8 or older (including adults).
• Support for young people with a severe learning disability and behavioural, emotional or mental health needs.

Referral to these services remains via a healthcare professional.

There will be no disruption in care for families and young people already using these services as they will carry on seeing the same clinicians, in the same places and using the same contacts. There will also be no changes to appointments or waiting lists. The only change is that information and referral forms are now hosted on Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust's website .

Support in schools  

Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust is also now responsible for the Mental Health Support Teams in schools, known locally as Kent Emotional Wellbeing Teams and Medway Emotional Support Teams. 

These teams offer direct support, parent-led interventions, and group workshops, aiming to improve young people's wellbeing and help them with issues like anxiety, poor sleep and exam stress before they need more intensive support. Parents and carers should continue to contact their child's school for more information.    

Therapeutic alliances 

On 1 April, two therapeutic alliances went live to support children and young people in Kent and Medway with their mental health and emotional wellbeing. 

The therapeutic alliances have been developed within the national i-THRIVE Framework, focusing on the areas called “getting help” and “further support”.  

This means making sure children and young people getting the right kind of help, at the right time, in a way that works for them.  

In Medway 

On 1 April, North Kent Mind launched the Medway Therapeutic Alliance.

North Kent Mind will lead the delivery of the therapeutic alliance in Medway working with Kooth, BFB Labs, Barratt Behaviour Change Consultancy (BBCC), Salus, Young Lives Foundation, Oasis, CHUMS. 

Anyone can refer including parents, professionals and the child or young person themselves. Referral is via an online form found at:  www.medwaytherapeuticalliance.co.uk  

Paper referrals are also accepted and can be dropped/posted to North Kent Mind, New Road Avenue, Chatham, ME4 6BB. 

Rebecca Smith, Director of CYP Services at North Kent Mind, said: “We are proud to take on the role of lead provider within the Medway Therapeutic Alliance. As a long-established mental health provider for children, young people, and families, we bring a deep understanding of local needs, system pressures, and the importance of working in genuine partnership.  

“ This approach aligns strongly with our values at North Kent Mind, driving forward collaboration, empowerment, and delivering meaningful, lasting impact. Leading this new framework for emotional wellbeing support gives us a real opportunity to shape a more connected, needs-led offer across Medway and contribute to the kind of generational change that improves outcomes for children, young people, families, and the wider system.”  

In Kent 

After the Easter weekend (week commencing 6 April), Salus will begin taking referrals to the Kent Children and Young People's Emotional Wellbeing and Mental Health Therapeutic Alliance. 

Salus will lead working with We Are With You, Young Lives Foundation, Spurgeons, Involve, Oasis and CHUMS. 

Anyone can refer including parents, professionals and the child or young person themselves. Referral is via the website www.ktatss.co.uk.

The goal is a simple, joined up pathway that lets children and young people in Kent move easily between services depending on what kind of emotional wellbeing or mental health support they need.  

This new service, commissioned by NHS Kent and Medway Integrated Care Board, will work seamlessly with the Kent County Council (KCC)-commissioned Kent Therapeutic Support Service (TSS), which Salus launched in autumn 2025. 

Salus Chief Executive Sally Williamson said: “To make sure young people and their families can get the support that they need in an easily accessible way, there will be a single referral form with no wrong front door. Families can also be assured they won't lose their place if they are waiting for support from one of our services.”

Online 

Children and young people aged 10 to 25 years, across Kent and Medway, will also be able to access mental health support online through Kooth.

Available without a referral, Kooth offers proven self-guided, professional, and peer support through kooth.com with crucial online safeguards to protect young people from harm and connect them to local services.

Billie Kerr, Relationship Manager at Kooth, said: “Since 2017, Kooth has been a proud partner in supporting the mental health of children and young people across Kent and Medway. We currently support more than 7,000 young people in the region every year, and we're thrilled to continue providing safe online support in partnership with the Medway Therapeutic Alliance and NHS Kent and Medway. Being part of this joined-up approach means we can better guide users to the right level of care at the right time.”

NHS Kent and Medway ICB commissions Kooth in Kent. In Medway, Kooth will provide services as part of the Medway Therapeutic Alliance, commissioned by Medway Council.