Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services: inpatient report

2. Aims and Objectives

The primary aim of the survey was to ascertain the need for specialist mental health inpatient provision for children and young people under age 18 with learning disability and/or autism spectrum disorder in Scotland. To do this, the survey aimed to gather comprehensive information over a 5 year period (2010-2014 inclusive) on service usage and parent and clinician experience and opinion. This included:

a) Demographic and clinical characteristics of children and young people with learning disability and/or autism spectrum disorder in Scotland who have either had a mental health admission in the 5 year period, or who have required one but have not been able to access it.

b) The nature of inpatient or alternative arrangements that have been made for these patients.

c) The outcomes and impacts of the various arrangements that have been made on children, young people, their families and local services.

d) The financial cost of the inpatient admissions or alternative arrangements.

The survey results were intended to inform recommendations for future mental health inpatient provision for this group of children and young people. This report summarises the analysis and findings from the survey, and makes recommendations.