Services are over run and under staffed. This results in large waiting lists and increased waiting times. Many NHS services are re-directing young people and their families towards third sector and voluntary organisations who are not equipped to support them, nor do they have the training/expertise to support the needs of the young person. For instance, the NHS, Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) who are said to offer specialist assessment/intervention often refuse to support, redirect or re-refer many children with Autism to voluntary organisations despite the fact that they have associated mental health concerns. I have personal experience of this. Families have been explicitly advised that the mental health concern is related to Autism and therefore does not warrant input from their service. This does not make sense.........the young person still requires support to manage their mental health.
This content is created by the open source Your Priorities citizen engagement platform designed by the non profit Citizens Foundation