Follow-up on our review of Greenwich Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS)
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Healthwatch Greenwich met with the Royal Borough of Greenwich (RBG) Children Services, South East London Clinical Commissioning Group (Greenwich) and Oxleas NHS Trust in January 2020 to discuss progress on CAMHS since their previous report in 2018. In March 2020, they held a further meeting with RBG Public Health. The purpose of these meetings was to identify progress in addressing their recommendations
Overall, it is clear that much progress has been made to address our recommendations set out in 2018. Healthwatch Greenwich felt there was a clear commitment from RBG Public Health and Children’s Services, Oxleas, and SEL CCG (Greenwich) to continue to improve the mental health support offer for children and young people in Greenwich, underpinned by a collaborative infrastructure.
The most significant impact of undertaking the health equality audit is the creation of good quality local evidence, which will underpin plans to support children and young people. Healthwatch was pleased to see the CCG, Oxleas and RBG have used insight from the health equality audit in the development of the Mental Health Support Teams. They were also impressed by the work to support looked-after children, ensuring that there is support available regardless of placement status. In particular, the clinical in reach model, alongside meetings with the child/young person's network, ensures that all levels of expertise (both professional and service user) are considered.
Complimenting this, are the youth voice forums, Young Mental Health Ambassadors, and the parent mental health network – all of which ensure that children and young people’s needs are at the centre of the support offered. Furthermore, there has been a focus on ensuring that people who work with children and young people – be that teachers, social workers, or carers and parents – are equipped to support them. This is demonstrated by the variety of courses available to foster carers, as well as the Anna Freud Link Programme.