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    Suffolk Child, Family and Young Person ARFID Team

    • A multi-disciplinary specialist team supporting children and young people (aged 5-17) with Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID), and their caregivers.

    • Base: Haymills House, Station Road East, Stowmarket, IP14 1RQ
    • Service Manager Lead: Kieron Loane (Operations Manager, Trustwide Eating Disorder Services) Matthew Richardson (Matron, Trustwide Eating Disorder Services) Dr Kathy Jackson (Clinical Lead, Suffolk CFYP ARFID Team)
    • Reception phone number: 01449 745200
    • Service hours: 09:00 - 17:00, Monday - Friday.

    What this service offers

    We offer support to children and young people (aged 5-17) and families affected by Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID). This support is delivered via: 

    • An online information and resource library.
    • Advice, guidance and consultation to the professional network.
    • Psychoeducational workshops.
    • Specialist ARFID multidisciplinary team (MDT) assessment, formulation, and (where clinically indicated) diagnosis.
    • Intervention planning and coordination, which may include advice and signposting, more intensive MDT input, crisis in-reach and/or multi-agency treatment coordination (as clinically indicated).  
    • A facilitated Parent/Carer Peer Support group

    The specialist team benefits from multidisciplinary input including psychological therapies, psychiatry, dietetics, occupational therapy, and paediatrics. We also aim to improve awareness and understanding of ARFID, via professional and public information / training events.

    Access this service

    The Suffolk CFYP ARFID Specialist Team opened to referrals for assessment and intervention planning from Paediatrician colleagues on 12th May 2025.  Referrals are welcomed for children and young people aged 5 to 17, registered with a Suffolk GP.  

    Please complete the Suffolk ARFID Referral Form [docx] 58KB in full.  Suffolk CFYP ARFID Referral Criteria ICD-11 [pdf] 184KB

    At present, children and young people referred to the ARFID Specialist Team will be required to remain open to the referring Paediatrician, until such time that this is deemed no longer clinically necessary by the multi-agency MDT.   This is likely to be in cases where associated impairment is psychosocial, rather than nutritional.

    For all other health and social care professionals, the team are currently offering specialist consultation to provide advice, guidance, and support with intervention planning for children and young with avoidant and/or restrictive eating. 

    Professionals can access a consultation request form here.

    Please note, we are unable to accept self-referrals or family/ friend referrals. 

    How this service support carers including friends and family

    With consent, and where age-appropriate, information provided by parents and carers will be integral to our assessment process. Treatments offered by the specialist ARFID MDT will be centred around a whole-family approach to support, ensuring parents, carers, friends and family can access relevant information. 

    If you are the parent or caregiver for a child or young person experiencing avoidant / restrictive eating, and would like to get involved in coproduction or join our ARFID Peer Support Group, or if you'd like to share your ideas or experiences, please email AskSuffolkARFID@nsft.nhs.uk. We look forward to collaborating with you.

    Urgent help

    Please be aware this is not a crisis service.  If you have urgent concerns about a child/young person's physical condition, please contact 111 or request they attend Accident & Emergency.

    The MEED (Medical Emergencies in Eating Disorders) Guidance provides a framework for evaluation of physical health risk in individuals with eating disturbance: www.rcpsych.ac.uk/improving-care/campaigning-for-better-mental-health-policy/college-reports/2022-college-reports/cr233 

    For urgent mental health support, call 111 and select the mental health option (24-hours/day).  If you are with someone who has self-harmed or attempted to end their life, call 999 and stay with them until the ambulance arrives.

    For more information, see Help in a Crisis.

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