Children and Young People's Emotional Wellbeing and Mental Health Services
NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin Integrated Care Board (ICB) currently commissions Midlands Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (MPFT) to deliver local Children and Young People’s Mental Health Services (CAMHS), known as BeeU.
A comprehensive piece of work was undertaken to redesign and recommission the local CAMHS offer. The has taken place through a competitive procurement exercise in line with Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023 (PSR).
New CAMHS Service Model Awarded to MPFT
Following the conclusion of the formal procurement process, NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin is pleased to confirm that MPFT has been awarded the contract to deliver the new model of Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) across the county.
This decision follows a rigorous, transparent and legally compliant commissioning process designed to secure a service that better meets the needs of children, young people and families. The redesigned service model has been shaped by extensive public engagement and places a strong emphasis on early help, accessibility and integrated care.
Although MPFT is the current provider of local CAMHS, the award represents a fundamentally new service model, developed in response to feedback from children, young people, parents, carers and professionals. The service will be delivered within existing funding but with a renewed and redesigned approach to ensure improved outcomes and value for money.
Existing BeeU service users, and families who have been referred into BeeU will not see their care change or be required to opt-in to the new service when it launches in April.
At its core, the service will provide:
- Emotional wellbeing and mental health services for children and young people aged 0-25 and their families with ongoing support where needed for young people up until 25 years of age
- Neurodevelopmental assessments for children (autism for 5–18-year-olds, and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) for 6–18-year-olds)
- Community Eating Disorder Services for 0–18-year-olds
The new model will incorporate the national ‘I Thrive’ framework, with support targeted in the following ways:
- Getting advice – including consultation, drop-in sessions, early help groups, and digital resources for children and young people, families and professionals available via the MPFT website.
- Getting help – including mental health/ Neurodevelopmental assessments, specialist consultation, online emotional wellbeing support, schools-based 1:1 therapy, and group support.
- Getting more help – supporting children, young people and families with being referred for specialist assessment and treatment when this is felt to be required.
- Getting risk support - managing immediate and ongoing risk for children and young people who, despite extensive input are unable to benefit from therapeutic help and continue to have ongoing risk concerns
The new model has a dedicated focus on:
- Putting children and young people first – making sure their needs and preferences guide the support they receive, with clear information and tailored help.
- Easy access – a more streamlined referral process, dedicated triage team, and easy-to-use digital support.
- Help before things get worse – a strong focus on prevention and early support, so problems don’t escalate into a crisis.
- Fair access for everyone – tackling inequalities and making sure vulnerable groups, like children in care or with special educational needs, get the help they need.
- Faster support – shorter waiting times and interim help while waiting for specialist care.
- Joined-up care – services working together and sharing information, so families don’t have to repeat their story.
- Support through life changes – planning ahead from age 16 and ongoing support up to age 25 where this is needed.
- Flexible options – online, face-to-face, outreach and multilingual support to suit different needs.
- Clear communication – clearer signposting and regular updates for families and professionals.
- Ongoing support – quick and easy routes back into support if more help is needed.
NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin and MPFT will now begin the mobilisation phase. The new CAMHS service is expected to go live by 1 April 2026.
Some elements of the new model will be in place from day one, while others will be gradually introduced as part of a three-year transformation programme. Further updates will be issued to patients, families, schools and professionals to ensure a smooth transition.
For more information about the CAMHS re-procurement process, Read our latest Children and Young People’s Mental Health Services (CAMHS) - Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) document here.
- February 2026: New Children and Young People’s Emotional Wellbeing and Mental Health Service launches 1 April 2026
- October 2025: New CAMHS Service Model Awarded to MPFT.
- July 2025: Process to Secure New Contract for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) Now Live
- January 2025: Have Your Say on Emotional Wellbeing and Mental Health Services for Children and Young People in Shropshire, Telford, and Wrekin - NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin
To inform this re-procurement process, NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin undertook extensive public engagement from 27 January to 7 March to gather the experiences and views of children and young people, parents and carers who have tried to, or used CAMHS locally. To help inform our procurement process, questions broadly focused on:
- What was good about the service?
- What could be improved?
- What should the future service look like?
In response, almost 500 people responded to the survey, this included a mixture of online survey responses and discussions facilitated by trusted adults who had a relationship with children and young people.
Alongside, the public engagement a professional survey was ran. During this period 53 professionals responded to the survey. An in-person stakeholder workshop was also held.
All insight gathered has been gathered into a comprehensive engagement report and used to shape the final service specification. The final service specification will be published shortly.
To get involved in this continued journey of improvement, or if you have any queries, or would like to know more, please email involvement
Thank you to everyone who took the time to speak to us and share feedback, views and ideas.
