Strengthening community CAMHS across North Central London: A new collaborative approach

We’re pleased to share an important update about the future of Community Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) in North Central London (NCL).

Across NCL, four NHS trusts—including the Tavistock and Portman—currently provide essential CAMHS support for children, young people, and families. While each trust brings valuable expertise and innovation, we know the system can feel complex and, at times, difficult to navigate. That’s why we’re working towards a new, more coordinated model that puts young people at the centre.

A new Community CAMHS Provider Collaborative is being developed to improve how services work together across the region. The aim is to simplify access, reduce inefficiencies, and improve outcomes for young people and families by strengthening collaboration among NHS partners.

The collaborative—currently in its shadow form—is scheduled to become fully operational from 1 April 2026, subject to final approval by the NCL Integrated Care Board (ICB) in September 2025.

What’s changing?

The proposed collaborative will bring together the following NHS trusts:

• North London Foundation Trust (NLFT) – Lead Provider
• The Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust
• Royal Free NHS Foundation Trust
• Whittington Health NHS Trust

Importantly, this new model will not require any staff transfers. All staff will remain employed by their current organisations, but will have the opportunity to collaborate across different trusts and develop new skills. Decision-making within the collaborative will be driven by consensus, with input from clinical and operational leaders across the system, as well as feedback from children, young people, and their families.

Why is this important?

This initiative aims to make accessing mental health support easier for families, with clearer services and better outcomes for children and young people. It also offers new opportunities for staff to collaborate, share expertise, and work within a more coordinated system.

The development is designed to enhance and accelerate the improvements already underway in CAMHS, working alongside local authorities and other community partners to ensure that care remains rooted in local communities, while benefiting from a more joined-up approach across NCL.

We are excited about the potential of this new way of working and the positive impact it will have on the young people and families who rely on these vital services.