Camhs review chair calls for evidence from professionals

Child and adolescent mental health professionals are being invited to submit evidence to an independent review of Camhs.

The review was commissioned last December by the Department for Children, Schools and Families and the Department of Health to examine progress in service improvement and make practional recommendations.

Jo Davidson, who is heading up the review, said she wanted individuals and organisations to contribute to a debate on how to improve services.

The consultation period will run until 4 July and the review is due to report in the autumn.

More information

Camhs review

Related articles

Camhs get £31m to end inappropriate adult ward use for children

Mental health crisis among young people: research

Notes to Editors:

This Press Notice relates to England only.

1.         The Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families and the Secretary of State for Health have asked Jo Davidson (Chief Officer at Gloucestershire County Council) and Dr Bob Jezzard (Child Psychiatrist and formerly CAMHS Professional Adviser to DH) to lead an independent review to see how to improve services to effectively meet the educational, health and social care needs of children and young people at risk of, and experiencing, mental health problems.

2.         The main aims of the CAMHS Review are to investigate:

•           What progress has been made, since the launch of Standard 9 of the Children’s National Service Framework and the publication of Every Child Matters in 2004, in delivering services to meet the educational, health and social care needs of children and young people at risk of and experiencing mental health problems? (including those with complex, severe and persistent needs).

•           What practical solutions can those developing policy and delivering, managing and commissioning services use to address current challenges and deliver better outcomes for children and young people with mental health problems? How can these solutions be monitored?

3.         It is planned that the Review will report in autumn 2008.