Children and Adolescent Mental Health Services in Reading

Healthwatch Reading conducted an investigation into Children and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) in Reading after receiving concerns from families through community surveys and direct feedback. The review aimed to understand local people's experiences of CAMHS and identify areas for service improvement. 

The investigation gathered evidence through information requests, focus groups, outreach activities, meetings with support organisations, and discussions with parents whose children used CAMHS. 

Many parents reported dissatisfaction with aspects of the service. Key concerns included long waiting times, difficulties accessing crisis support, poor communication from staff, a lack of therapeutic support and parent training, inadequate signposting to community services, and concerns that families were not always treated with respect. Some parents felt excluded from decision-making, reported being spoken to rudely, or felt their knowledge of their own child was disregarded. 

Families also raised concerns about privacy and confidentiality within the CAMHS building. Thin walls, small consultation rooms, and conversations at reception were reported to make it possible for personal information to be overheard. Parents also criticised the condition of the building and the lack of adequate parking facilities. 

A significant issue related to the monitoring of children taking medication for ADHD. Parents reported that recommended health checks, such as monitoring height, weight, and blood pressure, were not always being carried out after children were discharged to GP care. Information obtained from GP surgeries suggested that many children prescribed ADHD medication were not receiving the recommended health reviews. 

Concerns were also raised about crisis care arrangements. Many families were unaware of available urgent mental health services or found existing pathways difficult to access. Some parents reported having to rely on family and friends for support during crises, while others experienced delays when trying to contact CAMHS staff. 

Parents reported that training and support for families of children with ADHD or autism were not always available or clearly communicated. Although community support and parenting programmes existed, many families said they had not been informed about them or did not know how to access them. 

CAMHS management responded to the concerns by explaining that medication, therapy, parenting support, and family interventions were available, and that referrals were generally seen within 12 weeks, with urgent cases receiving a faster response. The service stated that risk assessments, urgent care pathways, complaints procedures, and support options were already in place, although they acknowledged that communication with families could be improved. 

Healthwatch Reading made several recommendations. These included improving promotion of ADHD health checks, strengthening communication with families and GPs, improving information about crisis services, increasing awareness of support organisations and autism assessment services, ensuring better privacy within CAMHS premises, clarifying complaints procedures, and providing clear information about waiting times and available training programmes. 

Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust accepted many of the findings and committed to reviewing monitoring processes, improving information for families, strengthening crisis response arrangements, updating support materials and websites, reviewing confidentiality within the building, and improving staff training and feedback systems. The Trust also issued an apology to families who had experienced poor staff attitudes or inadequate communication.

The report concluded that while some families had positive experiences with individual staff members, there were significant concerns regarding communication, access to support, crisis services, ADHD monitoring, and the overall experience of families using CAMHS. Healthwatch Reading committed to continuing to work with commissioners, providers, and families to improve services and monitor progress.