Funding for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services

Funding of £10.83 million has been allocated for the remainder of this year to help improve access to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS).

The investment will also increase the numbers of trained professionals to support children and young people with neurodevelopmental support needs.

The allocation is part the of £120 million Mental Health Recovery and Renewal Fund announced in February 2021, and will help to deliver a number of improvements, including:

• improve access to CAMHS assessments out of hours
• help to put in place specialist regional CAMHS services including those with learning disabilities and those requiring secure care
• Help provide access to CAMHS Intensive Home Treatment Teams
• Support mental health liaison teams within paediatric services

The Recovery and Renewal Fund supports many mental health measures contained in the Programme for Government. Other policies include extra support for health and care staff, completion of the commitment to recruit 800 additional mental health workers this year and a pledge that at least 10% of frontline NHS spending will go towards mental health over this parliament.

Mental Wellbeing and Social Care Minister Kevin Stewart, who announced the allocation during a visit to the Young People’s Inpatient Unit at The Royal Hospital for Children and Young People in Edinburgh, said:

“I am pleased to announce the allocation of £10.83 million health boards to support children and young people with mental health issues, and those with neurodevelopmental support needs.

“This funding will lead to substantial improvements in the mental health care that children and young people receive in Scotland, ensuring that the right support is available in the right place at the right time.

“We know the pandemic has had a negative impact on many people’s mental health – whatever their age or circumstances. That is why we committed £120 million to the recovery and renewal of mental health services in this year’s Programme for Government. I hope that the allocation I have announced today makes a real and lasting difference to children, young people and their families.”

Background

 This funding will support further implementation of the National CAMHS Services Specification, and will help to build professional capacity in Health Boards to support the implementation of the National Neurodevelopmental Specification for Children and Young People: Principles and Standards, published last week.

 The full year allocation of the £18.75 million from the Recovery and Renewal Fund is as follows:

• £5.25 million to support the implementation of the National Neurodevelopmental Specification for Children and Young People: Principles and Standards
• £3.3 million for CAMHS Intensive Psychiatric Care Units (IPCUs)         
• £3 million for CAMHS Intensive Home Treatment Teams         
• £1.2 million for Specialist Regional CAMHS services for those with learning disabilities, and those requiring secure  care.       
• £2 million to provide access to Child and Adolescent Psychiatric assessments out of hours.   
• £3 million for CAMHS Liaison Services within paediatric services
• £1 million for Data gathering, research and evaluation