What is CAMHS?

CAMHS is a term used to refer to all services that involve or affect the mental health of children and young people. However whilst some services that fall under the CAMHS umbrella are specialist in nature others do not specifically provide mental health services, nor are they aimed specifically at children and young people. Services include specialist inpatient and community services, social services, GP, voluntary and educational support services.

Why are we reviewing CAMHS?

In September 2001 the Welsh Assembly Government published the CAMHS Strategy, Everybody’s Business, which sets out a ten year programme aimed at establishing comprehensive, effective and high quality services across Wales. However, there is widespread concern over the development of comprehensive and equitable CAMHS across Wales and a range of stakeholders have identified CAMHS as a key issue.

Scope of the review

Amongst the areas the review will look at are:

• the range of services and support in place to meet the needs of children and adolescents across Wales;
• the experiences of children, adolescents and their parents when accessing and using services; and
• arrangements to support continual service improvement, including planning and commissioning of services.

A detailed methodology outlining how we are going to undertake the review is still under development and will be placed on this website in due course.

How can you help?

As part of this work the review team would like patients, carers and staff who work in or with CAMHS to tell them about your experiences – what is working well and what could be improved. We are interested in hearing about services provided within Wales, and also services elsewhere that have been used by patients from Wales. If you have any comments to make you can contact us using the Feedback Form.

Alternatively you may write to us at:

CAMHS review team
Healthcare Inspectorate Wales
Bevan House
Caerphilly Business Park
Van Road
CAERPHILLY
CF83 3ED

Or email CAMHSreview@wales.gsi.gov.uk

We must point out that whilst we are interested in hearing the individual experiences of children, young people and their carers this is only as part of creating a picture of services and arrangements across Wales, which will help shape a wide ranging report to support the future development of services and policy. We are unable to take action in individual cases.