(2) whether any Tier 4 child and adolescent mental health services cater exclusively for children with an autistic spectrum disorder;
(3) what autistic-specific training is required of staff working in child and adolescent mental health services Tiers 2 to 4;
(4) whether the proxy indicator used in public service agreement 12 on the development and delivery of Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services for children and young people with learning disabilities is intended to cover children with autistic spectrum disorders who do not have a learning disability.
I have been asked to reply.
The Government have taken steps to ensure that Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) are improved for all children and adolescents, including those with an autistic spectrum disorder. The independent CAMHS Review, commissioned by Ministers, reported in November 2008. The Review made 20 recommendations aimed at improving children's and young people's mental health and psychological wellbeing. The Government is shortly to publish a Full Government Response to the Review, aimed at providers and commissioners of services, which describes how professionals can work effectively together so that everyone in the wider children's workforce knows exactly where to turn when a child has emotional wellbeing or mental health needs.
The National Institute for Clinical Excellence is currently developing a clinical guideline on the recognition, referral and diagnosis of Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASD).
The children's service mapping exercise in England in 2007-08 found that the number of children and young people supported with ASD had increased from 7,719 in 2006 (7 per cent. of caseload) to 10,231 in 2007 (9 per cent.). 685 CAMHS teams supported ASD children and young people and their families. Of these 108 CAMHS teams reported providing targeted work for children and young people with ASD. Additionally, of the 349 community paediatric services, 193 (55 per cent.) ran ASD clinics.
There are Tier 4 services which cater specifically for children with ASD. Examples include the Hawksmere Children's Unit (Autism Therapy and Education Centre) in Hertfordshire, which is specifically for boys from the age of 13-18 with ASD, and Cygnet Springside, based in the north west and south west of England.
The training of staff is for determination at a local level. Staff dealing with patients with ASD would be expected to be trained to deal with such patients.
Within PSA12 (to improve the health and wellbeing of children and young people) the Government are committed to improving the mental and emotional health and wellbeing of children and young people. Four proxy measures are being used to monitor progress: the development and delivery of CAMHS for children and young people with learning disabilities; appropriate accommodation and support for 16/17 year olds; availability of 24-hour cover to meet urgent mental health needs; and joint commissioning of early intervention support. Services for children and young people with ASD are included in three of these proxies and those who additionally have a learning disability are included in the learning disability proxy.