Our ELCAS team not only includes clinical psychiatrists, clinical psychologist's specialist therapists, mental health practitioners, Primary Care Team, and Mental Health Support Teams but also our dedicated performance and business administrative team. Our admin team consists of 10 secretaries, three receptionists and to oversee the Team - two Assistant Business Managers. We also have a Transformation Manager and a Performance and Information Team. The admin team works across the seven-day week ensuring our clinicians and teams are supported when on duty. Each of our ELCAS teams has a dedicated secretary who is responsible for the communication between the team, children, young people and their family, GPs and any other organisation involved in their care by:
- Ensuring your details are recorded on our system
- Writing and sending out letters
- Arranging clinic appointments
- Receiving and responding to telephone calls from children and young people, their parents, GP practices, children’s social care, schools
- Any other administration required to support you
Meet some of our dedicated team:
Assistant Business Manager, Secretaries and Reception – Tara
Hi, my name is Tara and I am one of the Assistant Business Manager’s within ELCAS. I am the manager for the admin team who are a vital part to our service. There are ten secretaries within ELCAS and three receptionists. I also make sure every young person who comes into our service receives a high quality standard of care by ensuring the service adheres to Trust policies and NICE guidelines at all times.
Community Team Medical Secretary – Kay
Hi, my name is Kay and I am the medical secretary to the three Consultant Child Psychiatrists, Dr Ahmad, Dr Duddu and Dr Norrington-Moore within the Hyndburn, Ribble Valley and Rossendale sector ELCAS Team. I provide all secretarial support to the Consultants and process and attend the referrals meeting for our team. My role includes arranging and managing clinics for the Consultants, liaising with families, receiving and responding to telephone calls, booking appointments, and writing and sending out letters to families and professionals. Other medical secretaries within the team do my role supporting our lead clinicians working in the other locality areas.
Primary Care Team Secretary – Abbie
Hi, my name is Abbie, and I am the secretary for the Primary Care Mental Health Team here at ELCAS. My team work within GP practices across Pennine Lancashire supporting children and young people within the community. My role includes liaising with GP’s, schools, professionals and families. A big part of my role is ensuring the referrals we receive from professionals are processed quickly in order to discuss in our multidisciplinary team meeting where we decide what is best service to support the young person which could be one of our teams within ELCAS or another service. I also arrange the weekly virtual drop in sessions where young people under 18 and professionals can attend and talk to a practitioner about any difficulties they may have.
Receptionist – Iqra
Hi, my name is Iqra and I am one of the three receptionists here at ELCAS. It is my role to welcome you to the department and notify your practitioner when you arrive. I am always happy to help so please feel free to ask me any questions you may have whilst you are visiting ELCAS.
Assistant Business Manager, Mental Health Support Teams – Natalie
Hi, my name is Natalie and I am the Assistant Business Manager for the Mental Health Support Teams (MHST)s. I monitor the referrals to ensure that children and young people are seen within the 28 day national target. I facilitate lots of meetings ensuring communication and engagement with partners and stakeholders. I attend all the regional meetings and I am the ‘go to’ person for any information or reports schools, Integrated Care Board (ICB), NHS England, Department of Education or the teams may require. I manage the two MHST secretaries and have supported the team to produce leaflets and other promotional material to share with schools and social media platforms.
Mental Health Support Teams Secretary – Maria
Hi, my name is Maria and I am the Team Secretary for the Burnley, Pendle, Hyndburn, Rossendale and Ribble Valley Mental Health Support Teams (MHSTs). The teams work with children and young people with lower levels of mental health difficulties and are based within schools. My role includes liaising with schools and families, receiving and responding to telephone calls, booking appointments, posting information on social media, and writing and sending out letters to families and GPs.
Performance and Information Lead – Joe
Hi, my name is Joe and here in the Performance and Information Team at ELCAS we aim to create a pro-active information and performance service. We provide information and in-depth analyses relating to the performance, quality and activity of the ELCAS service as a whole. We support colleagues within the ELCAS service, Family Care Division, the hospital Trust, NHS England/Digital and to our external partners. This ensures that all the great work being undertaken by our ELCAS teams can be shared both locally and nationally. Turning data into usable information we can support us to improve the care and quality we provide to those children and young people who come into the service.
Performance and Information Analyst – Vacant
The Performance and Information Analyst role is to support the Performance and Information Lead in providing high level, accurate data analysis and performance monitoring. It supports colleagues across ELCAS on the use of the service electronic patient record (IAPTUS) to ensure we keep accurate records of patient information, maintaining best practice and supporting improvements across the service. Passionate about quality and always willing to help colleagues with any issues they may be facing when it comes to understanding the importance of accurate recording and collection of data.
Personal Assistant – Carol
Hi, my name is Carol and I am Personal Assistant to Jo Weller, Clinical Director and Head of Service for ELCAS. As well as working closely with Jo, I am responsible for ordering and supplying all staff with adequate IT equipment, office furniture and stationery, even down to a pen! I am also the lead person for calculating and recording all staff’s annual leave. I support all ELCAS staff where and when I can. I have worked in the same role for 30 years and I cannot imagine working anywhere else!
Transformation Manager – Jeanette
Hi, my name is Jeanette and I am the Transformation Manager for ELCAS. My role is to ensure the new Lancashire and South Cumbria Thrive model for children and young people’s mental health is implemented across ELCAS. New teams have joined ELCAS including Response and Intensive Support (RAIS), Risk Support Liaison and Parenting Team. We are expanding our Primary Care Team and Mental Health Support Team to meet the needs of our local population. I feel very privileged to be in a position where I can make a difference helping to improve children and young people’s emotional health and wellbeing.