A revolutionary way to help young people with eating disorders has opened in Sussex.

The Spring Tide Eating Disorder Day Service in Hove is the first of its kind in the county and one of only four in South East England to offer an alternative to inpatient care.

The service will allow young people to be treated in the community and stay and home with their families.

Spring Tide delivers a combination of group and individual therapy sessions and mealtime support to people aged 18 and younger already known to specialist child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) and their families.

Based on a successful service developed by the South London and Maudsley’s Trust, Spring Tide has been commissioned by the NHS Kent and Sussex CAMHS Provider Collaborative, which Sussex Partnership NHS Trust leads.

Dr Alison Wallis, clinical director for CAMHS and specialist services at Sussex Partnership, said: “We are pleased to be able to offer this next level support to young people with an eating disorder.

“There has been an increase in need for eating disorder services in recent years and Spring Tide provides one way of addressing this. It’s a community day service meaning young people can get help and support for eating disorders, alongside their family, without having to go to hospital.

“Spring Tide will help us treat young people sooner and offer an alternative to staying overnight in hospital to receive the care they need.”

The service will operate Monday to Friday between 10am and 4pm, with flexibility available for families to join for a meal in the evening as part of a care plan.

The 14-week programme is designed around term times, including two half-terms, with a four-week programme offered over the school summer holidays.