Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services - Parents and Carers User Experience Report

Healthwatch Barnsley undertook research on Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) in Barnsley. They gathered feedback from children, young people, parents, carers and professionals to understand experiences of accessing support, receiving treatment and moving through local mental health services.

The report found that many families valued the support provided once they were able to access services, describing staff as caring, supportive and committed. However, waiting times for assessment and treatment were a significant concern. Families reported feeling anxious while waiting for support, and some felt their mental health had worsened during this period. Communication about waiting times and referral processes was not always clear, leaving some people uncertain about what would happen next.

Participants highlighted difficulties accessing the right support at the right time and felt there should be more early intervention, prevention and lower-level support available before problems reached crisis point. Young people emphasised the importance of being listened to, treated with respect and involved in decisions about their care, while parents and carers wanted better communication, clearer information and greater involvement throughout the process.

Healthwatch Barnsley concluded that improvements were needed to reduce waiting times, strengthen communication, improve awareness of available services and provide more support while families wait for specialist help. The report also highlighted the importance of developing earlier intervention and prevention services to ensure children and young people receive timely support for their mental health and emotional wellbeing.