CAMHS policy in Northern Ireland

A Review of Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services in Northern Ireland was carried out during 2010. The review found that, although improvements had been made since the Bamford Review (see below), there was still more to be done. For instance, a large number of young people are still being admitted to adult wards.

A Flourishing Society was published 2009, and sets out a vision for improving emotional health and wellbeing in Northern Ireland.

Families Matter; Supporting Families in Northern Ireland (2009), published by the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, moves parents into a central position in policy terms and strives to provide not only strategic direction for government on how best to assist parents in Northern Ireland but to also provide detailed initiatives and actions to meet our strategic aims. It is underpinned by the following principles:

  • That children and young people are safe and secure
  • Approaches to developing policies and services for children and young people should be holistic and integrated
  • The needs and perspectives of the children and families are used to inform planning and service delivery decisions
  • Policy development and planning decisions should be based on evidence
  • The evaluation of outcomes should be open and transparent to all
  • Innovation and creativity in developing policy should be valued further
  • Encourage all stakeholders – statutory, voluntary, community and private sectors -  to work together in partnership, especially in participation and collaboration with children, young people and their families
  • Encourage communities to have a say in the design and delivery of services
  • Promote social inclusion through developing strong families and communities and services to prevent children being adversely affected by discrimination and/or economic and social disadvantage.
  • Provide services that will empower and promote the independence of children, young people and their families enabling communities to help themselves.

Promoting Quality Care (2009) is guidance that provides fundamental principles of risk assessment of a child who is at risk to him/herself or others and highlights additional responsibilities and obligations in respect of safeguarding.

In July 2006 the Bamford Review of Mental Health and Learning Disability (Northern Ireland) published ‘A Vision of a Comprehensive Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service’

The report, one of 10 published by the Bamford Review, described services characterised by ‘overwhelming need and chronic under-investment’ and made 51 recommendations for change.
 
The response of the Northern Ireland Executive was set out in ‘Delivering the Bamford Vision’ which envisaged a 10-15-year programme of reform with the aim of Northern Ireland’s services being recognised as an exemplar of good practice.

The wider context for children’s services is framed by the ten year strategy for children and young people ‘Our Children and Young People – Our Pledge’.   This describes an outcomes framework that seeks to ensure that all children are: healthy; enjoying, learning and achieving; living in safety and with stability; experiencing economic and environmental well-being; contributing positively to community and society and; living in a society which respects their rights.  The strategy is underpinned by eleven core values and eight supporting themes.

The core values state that all children and young people:

• Have dignity as human beings and are respected
• Have rights as individuals
• Need loving and supportive families or carers
• Are unique individuals each with a valuable and diverse contribution to make to society
• Are active participants in society
• Are important in their own right, both now and in the future
• Are entitled to adult protection and opportunities to exercise their independence
• Are entitled to live in a peaceful and non-threatening environment
• Are entitled to educational opportunities
• Need support to explore and achieve their individual potential
• Need support and encouragement through transition from childhood to adulthood

The supporting themes are:

• A whole child approach
• Working in partnership
• Securing and harnessing the support of parents, carers and communities
• Responding to the challenges of a society emerging from conflict
• A gradual shift to preventative and early intervention approaches
• Developing a culture of involving children and young people in decisions which affect their lives
• Needs-driven and evidence-based practice
• A drive towards a culture which respects and progresses the rights of the child or young person

Protect Life: a Shared Vision, the Northern Ireland suicide prevention strategy and action plan 2006 - 201,1 has the following objectives:

  • to raise awareness of mental health and well-being issues;
  • to ensure early recognition of mental ill-health, and to provide appropriate follow-up action by support services;
  • to develop co-ordinated, effective, accessible and timely response mechanisms for those seeking help;
  • to provide appropriate training for people dealing with suicide and mental health issues;
  • to enhance the support role currently carried out by the voluntary/community sectors, bereaved families and individuals who have made previous suicide attempts;
  • to support the media in the development and implementation guidelines for a suitable response to suicide-related matters;
  • to provide support for research and evaluation of relevant suicide and self-harm issues; and
  • to restrict access, where possible, to the means of carrying out suicide.
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