CAFLink (Single Point of Entry)

CAFLink is the Child, Adolescent and Family Mental Health Service 'single point of entry function' which streamlines access to mental health services in Canterbury for children, adolescents and their families.

All outpatient referrals to the service are centrally received at CAFLink. This includes referrals to the CAF North and CAF South Community and Outreach Teams.

As well as providing an easily identifiable point of entry to services, CAFLink ensures better quality and more consistent information to referrers, young people and their families. Referrals are centrally processed and this includes screening, referral to community agencies and triage into the service.

Access to other services

• For care and protection concerns; contact ​Oranga Tamariki (Ministry for Children) by phone 0508 326 459 or www.orangatamariki.govt.nz/contact-us/contacts/
• For learning disability assessments; contact Paediatrics for under 5 year olds. For support with learning for children aged 5 and above, speak to your teacher or school special needs coordinator.
• For mild to moderate mental health issues in 13-24 year olds; please contact Manu Ka Rere (formerly the Community Youth Mental Health Service) on 03 281 7616 or email Manu Ka Rere using their self-referral form,  other support organisations are listed on www.healthinfo.org.nz
• For a mild to moderate mental health issue up to 13 years of age; please refer to Child and Family Services Mental Health Education & Resource Centre
• If you are a GP; Health pathways is available at healthpathways.org.nz (requires login)

Referrals and accessing to SMHS outpatient services

Child & Adolescent Mental Health outpatient services (CAF North and CAF South Community and Outreach Teams are available for:

• child/youth between 0-17 years
• he/she has a suspected or confirmed moderate to severe psychiatric disorder
• he/she lives within Canterbury region

All non-urgent referrals to CAF Services come via GP and ERMS process.  If the child/youth does not have a GP then please contact CAF Link to discuss. 

For a mild to moderate mental health issue up to 13 years of age: please refer to Child and Family Services Mental Health Education & resource Centre. 

Referrers querying ADHD need to have a completed SNAP-IV Questionnaire (listed below) in addition we require SNAP-IV from both parents x 2 (or significant other) and school PLUS School Support for Health and Wellbeing Assessment. Send all these forms to child/youths GP for GP to make referral. 

​​Caddra SNAP Questionnaire (PDF) 
Instructions for Caddra SNAP Questionnaire (PDF)

School Support for Health and Wellbeing Assessment - Years 1-8 (Word DOCX, 40KB)

School Support for Health and Wellbeing Assessment - Years 9-13 (Word DOCX, 40KB)

GP’s should follow HealthPathways for ADHD referrals.