Actions speak louder: A second review of healthcare in ... - HMCPSI
Actions speak louder: A second review of healthcare in ... - HMCPSI
Actions speak louder: A second review of healthcare in ... - HMCPSI
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ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER<br />
FINDINGS<br />
“Service users expressed dissatisfaction with the reality <strong>of</strong> some <strong>of</strong> the<br />
DVDs used <strong>in</strong> work around substance misuse. As a result, the team<br />
worked with young people and produced a DVD that they felt was more<br />
representative <strong>of</strong> the issues they faced.”<br />
We found good examples <strong>of</strong> substance misuse workers engag<strong>in</strong>g positively<br />
and imag<strong>in</strong>atively with children and young people, and mak<strong>in</strong>g comprehensive<br />
<strong>in</strong>terventions at the right time. In general, relationships between substance misuse<br />
workers and their YOT colleagues was good and <strong>in</strong>formation shar<strong>in</strong>g, <strong>in</strong> practice,<br />
has improved, even where a specific policy is not <strong>in</strong> existence.<br />
Good practice from <strong>in</strong>spection reports<br />
“There was evidence <strong>of</strong> skilled and sensitive work to promote the<br />
disclosure <strong>of</strong> drug misuse issues <strong>in</strong> <strong>in</strong>dividual cases.”<br />
Emotional and mental health<br />
Emotional and mental health services for children and young people who have<br />
<strong>of</strong>fended, were still <strong>in</strong>consistent <strong>in</strong> different parts <strong>of</strong> the country. Although the<br />
percentage <strong>of</strong> YOTs who have health workers <strong>in</strong> their teams has improved, one <strong>in</strong><br />
10 <strong>of</strong> those <strong>in</strong>spected still did not meet this explicit requirement. The mental health<br />
knowledge <strong>of</strong> YOT practitioners could also be patchy. We accept that, <strong>in</strong> some cases,<br />
clear attempts had been made to recruit without success, but this overall situation<br />
rema<strong>in</strong>s very worry<strong>in</strong>g. Even where it is difficult to attract the right calibre <strong>of</strong> person,<br />
more could be done to shore up the deficit through <strong>second</strong>ment<br />
or temporary appo<strong>in</strong>tment, for example.<br />
Where there are gaps, YOTs could still improve the service children and young<br />
people receive by, for example, ensur<strong>in</strong>g that clear pathways for referrals to<br />
universal services exist, and provid<strong>in</strong>g additional tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g so that case managers<br />
can identify and support the tackl<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> health issues. It is clear from our <strong>in</strong>spections<br />
that where a YOT did not have a health worker with<strong>in</strong> their team, health needs were<br />
not be<strong>in</strong>g fully recognised, assessed, supported or met. Where there were health<br />
workers on site <strong>in</strong> a YOT, there were still a few <strong>in</strong>stances where they were carry<strong>in</strong>g<br />
more generic caseloads, which could affect their ability to meet specifically<br />
identified health needs.<br />
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