Enhancing Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service Referrals
This in an NIHR-funded project which started in June 2024. EN-CAMHS 2 aims to co-develop a digital referral tool for NHS CAMHS to improve the quality of CAMHS referrals in England and Wales
What is EN-CAMHS 2?
​
The aim of EN-CAMHS 2 is to improve the quality of referrals received by CAMHS by enabling young people, parents and carers and professionals to contribute to the same referral form.​​
​
We worked with over 35 stakeholders across 8 focus groups to develop the content of the digital referral tool. Our project advisory groups have met consistently since the start of the project to advise on research activities. Specifically for this project, we set up the Pan-Disability Digital Accessibility Group (PDDAG), who worked with us to ensure the tool is as accessible as possible for individuals with disabilities and/or specific diagnoses.
​
We have worked with the Digital Health Software Team and Quality Manager at the University of Manchester to complete assessments and governance for the tool to make sure it is compliant with national standards, required data security standards, and NHS principles.
We are working with experts in inclusivity from academia and charities to make sure the tools are as inclusive as possible. We are working with CAMHS teams across England to pilot the digital referral tool for up to 9 months. The project has been granted favourable ethical opinion from the Health Research Authority (HRA).
Our digital referral tool is currently being piloted in CAMHS across England.
​
Why Was It Needed?
​
EN-CAMHS 1 found referrals for children and young people were not accepted by CAMHS which was distressing for families. People who made referrals to CAMHS, like doctors and teachers, were frustrated because the process was unclear, and they didn’t always know what other local support services were available. Families and professionals told us a digital tool could help make the referral process easier and clearer for everyone.​​
The above artwork was created by Rowan, a scribe who attended the Manchester Dissemination Event. Rowan visually captured the discussions which occurred throughout the day!
Please note, there are currently no opportunities to be involved in EN-CAMHS 2. Keep an eye out for details on dissemination events where we will be sharing the findings of the pilot implementation.
Hear from some of our stakeholders
“The EN-CAMHS 2 Advisory Group felt important because it gave people close to the issue a genuine voice in shaping a new CAMHS referral tool, rather than decisions being made isolated from lived experience.”
Hannah, EN-CAMHS Young People’s Advisory Group member
“As a young person myself, I particularly enjoy when I get to interact with other young people for this purpose. It feels good to create a comfortable, non-judgmental environment and make everyone's contribution feel valuable.”
Anam, EN-CAMHS Young People’s Advisory Group member
_edited.jpg)
"Having had experience of CAMHS from a very young age, representing my disabled lived experience felt exceptionally important to me. The opportunity to have a range of disabled lived experiences brought together to ensure that EN-CAMHS 2 makes a real difference is a privilege."
Cerys, EN-CAMHS Pan-Disability Digital Accessibility Group member
"This type of work is so important so that people can access digital resources no matter what barriers they may face in everyday life! I really hope that my contributions to the project will help people with a visual impairment like mine to be able to access the digital tools in the future."
Sam, EN-CAMHS Pan-Disability Digital Accessibility Group member
