Improving Community Child & Adolescent Mental Health Services



Hull & East Riding of Yorkshire Child & Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) Review front page

This review is now closed.
Views were sought to support this review in 2012 and 2013.  

There are approximately 135,000 children and young people aged 0-19 in Hull and the East Riding of Yorkshire.  From time to time all children and young people have emotional problems that affect their wellbeing, and, for most, these problems are short-lived and easily resolved with the right support from friends, family and others, including health, social care and education professionals.  For a small number of young people the problems are more severe and more specialist mental health assessment, support and sometimes treatment is required.  These problems include for example; depression and anxiety, behaviour disorders, eating disorders, psychosis, and self-harming.

The review of Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) was prompted by feedback from service users and providers that access and waiting times within the service could be improved. Young people, their parents and carers were invited to share their views and experience of the service.

Feedback on the re-design proposals was also sought from staff working in a wide range of organisations including health, schools, social care and the voluntary sector who are involved in supporting young people experiencing mental health issues.


What was the outcome to the review and how did patient, public and carer involvement contribute?

The outcomes from the CAMHS review and engagement with 237 service users in 2013 have helped to shape the new service specification. Key outcomes included the need for young people in mental health crisis to be quickly, appropriately, and safely supported in and out of hours, with their families fully involved in, and informed about, their care.

Key service changes

  • extended routine hours of working;
  • services located nearer to home;
  • greater clarity over the types of problems CAMHS can help with;
  • a new CAMHS Contact Point, operating Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm, open to referrals from GPs, other health, education and social care professionals, parents, and young people;
  • enhanced capacity within community CAMHS teams
  • to include:
  1. an intensive intervention service available seven days a week for those children and young people whose needs are particularly intense or complex
  2. a crisis assessment and intervention service to operate 24/7

The new service improvements were introduced from 31 March 2014.

How did we involve?

Click this link to view the CAMHS engagement document and questionnaire

Click this link to view the summary questionnaire and document that was designed for children and young people

What feedback was received?

Click this link to view the CAMHS feedback report