Emotional Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2009-2014
Work has started to devise a successor to the CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services) Strategy 2005-08. The new title for the strategy indicates that it will have a wider remit than just NHS specialist CAMHS services. A multi agency stakeholder group has been formed, and we hope to improve the way we work together to meet the needs of all children and young people whose emotional health is at risk.
A project plan for the new strategy has been agreed and needs assessment is being undertaken. The Stakeholder group are meeting together in May to formulate a vision for the future. We will be posting more information and relevant documents here as the strategy develops.
Details on progress made from 2005-08 is set out below:
- Appointment of 10 wte CAMHS Primary Mental Health Specialists– four for Early Years, three for 5-11 year olds, and three for 11-17 year olds, and one for children with learning disabilities. The PMHS’s role is to improve knowledge and skills in children and young people’s mental health, among staff of schools and other agencies. You will find them doing this through providing advice, training, support and joint working.
- For children who do not meet specialist CAMHS criteria, One Big Database, a regularly updated, searchable, on line database, gives information about services for children and families in the old Avon area.
- Emotional Health and Wellbeing Toolkit produced as a guide for schools on resources available for children in need of help ( First issue 2006. In process of revision for 2nd issue 2008).
- Increase in specialist CAMHS resources, aimed at specific areas of need - 16 and 17 year olds not on school rolls ( capacity increased by 3 new posts), children with learning disabilities ( 1 new psychiatrist post, pilot project with children at risk of out of authority placement), children in care (1 new post), 5-11 year olds with severe mental health needs (enlarged Intensive Assessment and Intervention day unit and outreach service).
- Introduction of a new process for assessment of referrals, the Choice and Partnership Approach, which has improved efficiency in other parts of the country, is beginning to reduce waiting lists for specialist CAMHS in Bristol.
- Starting to measuring outcomes for children who receive a specialist CAMHS service, to better see what works and improve the effectiveness of the service we provide.
- Clearer pathways and regular joint meetings between childrens and adult mental health services are improving joint working and transition.
- By April 2009, there will be one organisation providing Specialist CAMHS and all Community Child Health Services for Bristol. (Currently there are three). This should improve consistency, efficiency and joint working, as it will enable a restructuring to the 3 Childrens Services Areas.
If you require further information please see the documents available on the right of the page or contact Sue Topalian, CAMHS and Joint Commissioning Development Officer at jcu [at] bristol [dot] gov [dot] uk
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