Duty and urgent advice
Our duty line is ready to answer any queries and provide more urgent advice.
The DECC service aims to provide responsive advice, particularly when certain circumstances or ‘triggers’ have arisen in a child or young person’s life.
These include:
- The young person’s has a total score of over 14 on the ‘Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ);
- The child/young person or their carer is feeling worried about the stability of the child’s home circumstances;
- The young person or child is likely to disengage from or be excluded from their education setting;
- Members of a child’s Therapeutic Parenting Team (network) have identified a need for the child to receive emotional health and wellbeing support in relation to their trauma or attachment needs;
- A CIC nurse has identified emotional health and wellbeing needs within the child’s annual health assessment;
- The young person is at risk of entering a tier 4 mental health provision, or has a transition plan from tier 4.
If any of these circumstances or ‘triggers’ apply for a child with a CiC legal status, contact us.
Duty Line & Urgent Advice
When you contact our duty line, a therapeutic practitioner or clinician will be available to take your call, or return your call the same day. They can provide initial advice and explore 'next-step' options with you.
Urgent Advice Slot
During your call, you may be offered an 'urgent advice slot'. This slot offers an opportunity to receive more extensive, advice in a time-sensitive manner, provided by the duty practitioner. These slots will be booked via the duty line and offered within a 5-working-day period only.
It should be noted that if there are no available slots within 5 working days, you may be advised to call again to access one of these slots.
PLEASE NOTE: Our duty line is not an emergency line, please see below for recommended helplines.
To access our duty line please call 01332 505484
This service is available from 9th September 2025
Tuesday to Friday, 9am to 4pm.
From January 2026, this will be available
Monday to Friday, 9am to 4pm.
Emergency Support
If you require urgent medical attention – see details below
You will need to call 999 or take your young person to the nearest accident and emergency (A&E) department.
- Royal Derby Hospital, A&E Department, Derby Derbyshire, DE22 3NE - 01332 3401331.
- Chesterfield Royal Hospital, A&E Department, Chesterfield Rd, Calow, Chesterfield S44 5BL - 01246 277271
- Alternatively use the link below to find the A&E nearest you. Find your nearest A&E - NHS
If you do not require immediate medical intervention but do have significant concerns for your own / young person’s mental health and risk of harm (to self or others). You can call:
- CAMHS Urgent Care Teams (for young people under 18 years)
- Southern Derbyshire – 01332 389215, 7 days a week, 8am to 11pm, 365 days a year.
- Northern Derbyshire – 07901 330724, 7 days a week, 10am to10pm, 365 days a year.
Both teams will triage and if appropriate will offer a rapid assessment (within 4 hours).
- Emergency GP appointment - you can request a same day appointment with a doctor or healthcare professional.
- Derbyshire Mental Health Helpline and Support line – available 24/7, 0800 028 0077 or dial 111 and select option 2 (mental health). This is available for children, young people or adults. If you are deaf or hearing-impaired call NHS 111 via the SignVideo app or SignVideo website for a BSL interpreter.
If you would like to make a full referral - please click the button below.
Visit this page to make a full referral
