Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) and local authorities are increasingly turning to Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) delivery models to drive CAMHS transformation. That is the key finding of a report published today by Youth Access, the advice and counselling charity.
In particular, many local commissioners are enthusiastically embracing the YIACS (Youth Information, Advice and Counselling Services) model, recognising it as key to the provision of more accessible, integrated early intervention and prevention services without the clinical and age barriers inherent in statutory CAMHS.
Areas, where YIACS are set to play an integral role in CAMHS transformation, include: Liverpool - Young Persons Advisory Service; Hampshire - a consortium of eleven YIACS, led by No Limits; Bristol - Off The Record Bristol; and Croydon - Off The Record Croydon and Croydon Drop In. (See Liverpool case study below.)
We are excited to see so many progressive CAMHS commissioners across the country who recognise the benefits of handing a more prominent delivery role to YIACS and other voluntary sector services. There is a long way to go yet, but a clear direction of travel is emerging that can only be good news for young people in the long term.
However, we remain concerned that there are still areas where there is little evidence of change - to the detriment of young people. Future in Mind gave a clear steer about the need for a better investment in early intervention services, rather than the late intervention that makes up too much of our current offer to young people. Investment in flexible, responsive and open access YIACS is a key part of the change that is needed.
Barbara Rayment, Youth Access Director
Youth Access also remains deeply concerned at signs that the funding and provision of services for young adults may be deteriorating.
There is widespread recognition of the need to put in place services that would better meet the needs of 16-24 year olds and avoid the ‘cliff-edge’ that confronts young people transferring from child to adult mental health services. However, it appears that local transformation planning processes have not gone far enough in this area and we have yet to see evidence that adult mental health commissioners are taking their share of responsibility for this age group. Young adults will continue to be ignored and let down unless CAMHS and AMHS can come together more systematically to jointly plan and commission age-appropriate services across the transition.
There was a clear signal in Future in Mind, that doing more of the same isn’t good enough, so we welcome this report which highlights the key role that YIACS are playing in supporting young people’s mental health. There is so much more to be done to meet the mental health and developmental needs of all young people. So, we all have to work together, building on our strengths to help young people build on theirs.
Prof. Dame Sue Bailey, The Children and Young People’s Mental Health Coalition Chair