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Mental Health Services: Young People

Volume 508: debated on Wednesday 7 April 2010

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department takes to ensure that children with a dual diagnosis of a mental health problem and (a) a learning disability and (b) an autistic spectrum disorder are recorded (i) in the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services commissioning process, (ii) in children and young people's plans and (iii) in children's health needs assessments. (325734)

Each local Children and Young People's Plan must include an outline of key actions which specifically address the needs of children with disabilities. The Government published new Statutory Guidance on Children's Trusts on 22 March 2010 and make clear that in the case of children with autistic spectrum disorders (ASD) the plan could set out what arrangements are in place to commission services to meet the full range of their needs not just those relating to ASD.

‘The Mental Health and Psychological Well-being of Children and Young People’, Standard 9 of the National Service Framework for Children, Young People and Maternity Services, stated that the commissioning and delivery of a comprehensive Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) should include regular assessments of local need of children and young people in the locality who are vulnerable or at risk. A copy of the document has already been placed in the Library.

A CAMHS dataset, to further strengthen needs assessment and inform the strategic planning process, is currently in development. The dataset will provide information for local use in commissioning and delivering CAMHS.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether there is an established national referral pathway to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services for children with (a) mental health problems and (b) autistic spectrum disorders and co-occurring mental health problems. (325735)

‘The Mental Health and Psychological Well-being of Children and Young People’, Standard 9 of the National Service Framework for Children, Young People and Maternity Services emphasised the need for clear pathways to be set out to show how the range of mental health needs of children and young people will be met. It is for commissioners and providers to develop local services to meet the needs of their populations informed by the National Service Framework and more recently, ‘Keeping Children and Young People in Mind: The Government's Full Response to the Independent Review of Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS)’, published in 2010. Copies of both documents have already been placed in the Library.

The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence has published clinical guidelines and technology appraisals which cover the care, treatment and support that children and young people with mental health disorders and their families or carers should be offered. These guidelines will inform the development of local clinical guidelines, care pathways and protocols.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many specialist Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services have a remit to address the needs of children with (a) a learning disability, (b) an autistic spectrum disorder, (c) an eating disorder and (d) a physical or sensory disability. (325772)

“The Mental Health and Psychological Well-being of Children and Young People”, Standard 9 of the National Service Framework for Children, Young People and Maternity Services, published in 2004 set out the policy framework for a comprehensive Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS). A copy has already been placed in the Library. This includes the need for specialised services for the full range of mental disorders including complex needs in conjunction with other agencies as appropriate, including learning disabilities.

The children's service mapping exercise in England in 2007-08 provided information on CAMHS teams providing services to children and young people with a learning disability or an autistic spectrum disorder. The mapping found that 685 CAMHS teams supported autistic spectrum disorder (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. The mapping found a total of 722 CAMHS teams (69 per cent. of all teams) provided specialist learning disability care.

We do not collect information on the number of specialist CAMHS services providing services to address the needs of children with learning disability, ASD, eating disorder and a physical or sensory disability.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he plans to issue guidance on the commissioning of Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services for vulnerable groups other than looked-after children. (325775)

Guidance to support commissioners in playing their central role in securing improved outcomes for children, young people and their families “Securing better health for children and young people through world class commissioning: A guide to support delivery of Healthy lives, brighter futures: The strategy for children and young people’s health” was published in 2009. A copy has already been placed in the Library.

In addition, guidance for commissioners on the requirements of public service agreement 12 indicator 4 on the extent to which local authorities and primary care trusts should work in partnership to commission a full range of early intervention services, delivered in universal settings and through targeted services, for children experiencing mental health problem was published in 2009.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what criteria his Department requires a comprehensive Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service to meet. (325776)

“The Mental Health and Psychological Well-being of Children and Young People”, standard 9 of the National Service Framework for Children, Young People and Maternity Services, published in 2004 set out the policy framework for a comprehensive child and adolescent mental health service (CAMHS). Further information is set out in “Keeping Children and Young People in Mind: The Government’s full response to the independent review of CAMHS” published in 2010. Copies of both documents have already been placed in the Library.

Four proxy measures are being used to monitor progress on public service agreement 12 indicator 4 (emotional health and well-being of child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS)). These are:

the development and delivery of CAMHS for children and young people with learning disabilities;

appropriate accommodation and support for 16 to 17-year-olds;

availability of 24-hour cover to meet urgent mental health needs; and

joint commissioning of early intervention support.