RQIA Independent Review of Child and Adolescent Mental Health ...

Term of Reference 1 Theme 2 Access to CAMHS
Assessment Criterion HSC Board Level of achievement
The limited development and lack of focus on primary mental
health workers restricts capacity. This means that the community
support function and the capacity to ensure that children and
young people have access to appropriate intervention at an early
stage to prevent deterioration are also compromised.
1.2.2 The development of a
comprehensive CAMH
service should be facilitated
by establishing a structured
implementation process and
addressed across health and
social services, education
and youth justice services.
The Bamford implementation group has developed a service
improvement programme aimed at delivering the actions
recommended by the review.
The HSC Board suggested that the recently published Health
Future Strategy 2010 -2015 will provide a framework for the early
identification of the public health needs for children and for
families in need of early intervention.
A draft protocol for outreach with Youth Justice has been
developed. Consultation will begin in September 2010 however
the impact may be constrained by the current resource position.
Partially achieved
The HSC Board acknowledges there is still significant joint
working required across Health, Social Services, Education and
Youth Justice services. The establishment of the Bamford Task
group provides a structure for taking this forward.
The review team identify that the current post funded by Youth
Justice was able to provide some CAMHS in reach and asked the
HSC Board had there been consideration given to extending this.
The HSC Board suggested that this may be looked at further.
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