City & Hackney Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services

Professional Standards

CAMHS noticeboard Professionals in all the CAMH services are expected to use evidence based practice and to take part in CPD in order to keep up to date with new knowledge from research and to be aware of Government guidelines on child mental health including those produced by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE). All the agencies provide training for their staff but in addition there is a multi agency training programme for CAMH (MATCH).

Evidence based practice

The NHS Executive commissioned a review of the outcomes of all treatments of psychiatric disorder in childhood published as What Works For Whom? A summary of the review, published in 2006 The summary, Drawing on the Evidence -Advice for mental health professionals working with children describes evidence based practice as ‘the integration of individual practitioner expertise with the best available external evidence from systematic research’. The booklet also says ‘The picture presented by many children, young people and families seeking help from services is complex, and the answers to the child’s and the family’s problems are sometimes not at all obvious. for example, very little is known about the appropriateness of most relatively well evaluated treatments with minority cultural groups. Any attempt to ‘prescribe’ treatments on the basis of diagnosis or presenting problem alone is likely to be oversimplistic. ”Decisions need to be made in the light of assessment of the appropriateness of a particular approach within a given context, its acceptability, the likely costs, risks and benefits compared with other approaches’. A booklet has been published by The Evidence Based Practice Unit to help you find, analyse and use information to develop and deliver services to support the emotional, psychological and mental health needs of children and young people. Knowing where to look; How to find the evidence you need (2008)

Continuing Professional Development (CPD)

The East London Foundation Trust provides mandatory training for all employees and in addition provides a wide range of clinical and academic training events including a monthly academic half day held at St Bartholomew’s Hospital. Clinicians are encouraged to use their study leave and CPD allowance to attend relevant external training events.

The London Borough of Hackney also provides a wide range of internal training events and has recently set up an in house family therapy diploma course with trainers from The Institute of Family Therapy—-

NICE Guidelines relevant to CAMHS

Disturbance of Conduct Technology Appraisal on Parenttraining/ education programmes in the management of children with conduct disorders – guidance, (July 2006)

Disturbances of Attention Attention Deficit Hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) 2008 , NICE Review of Technology Appraisal 13: Methylphenidate, atomoxetine and dexamfetamine for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children and adolescents (March 2006)

Anxiety Disorders NICE Guideline on Anxiety (amended) – Management of anxiety (panic disorder, with or without agoraphobia, and generalised anxiety disorder) in adults in primary, secondary and community care (April 2007 NICE Guideline on Obsessive Compulsive Disorder for 8 years+ (November 2005)

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder NICE Guideline on Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD):The management of adults and children in primary and secondary care (March 2005)

Depressive Disorder NICE guideline on depression in children and young people (March 2006)

Psychotic Disorder NICE guideline on schizophrenia (adult specific) (2002)

Eating Disorder NICE guideline on eating disorders (aged 8 +) (2004)

Deliberate Self Harm NICE guideline on deliberate self harm (adult focussed but with section on children and young people) (2004)

Substance Abuse NICE guideline on substance abuse

CAMHS seminar rooms