Representing just 0.7% of the total NHS budget and with only 25% of children and young people with mental health problems receiving the care they need according to Public Health England, child mental health services (CAMHS) have been referred to as the ‘NHS’ biggest failing’ by Jeremy Hunt. In July 2016, the Prime Minister described young people’s mental welfare as one of the ‘burning injustices’ that she wishes to tackle. As such, NHS England has pledged to invest an additional £1bn towards frontline services and treat 1 million more people by 2021.

The Department for Education and Department of Health and Social Care too have published the 2017 Green Paper Transforming Children and Young People’s Health Provision dedicated to improving CAMHS. Thus far, recommendations include the introduction of community based mental health support teams, equipping all schools with a trained mental health coordinator and piloting a waiting time limit of 4 weeks for children and young people wishing to receive CAMHS which will complete roll-out by 2021. In the March 2018 Care Quality Commission Review of Children and Young People’s Mental Health Services it was recommended that Ofsted asses how schools support children and young people’s mental health as part of their inspections.

These are the first steps to taking an early-intervention strategy that will tackle a problem exacerbated by social media, school pressures and poverty as underlined by a 63% increase in self-harm amongst 13-16 year old girls between 2015-2018. Whilst steps have been taken to address limited access and increased demand, it is through inter-organisational collaboration that shortages in funding, staffing and training can be best addressed. It is therefore incumbent on schools, charities and health & social care professionals to work together to deliver high-quality CAMHS for the benefit of the estimated 800,000 children living with mental health disorders in this country.

This one day forum will provide the opportunity for participants to discuss how the government’s latest plans to elevate and transform child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) will function in practice. Attendees will hear from policy leaders and practitioners as they highlight areas where improvement is necessary and how to implement innovative new initiatives that enable coherent and accessible services that place young people’s needs at their core.

Key speakers include:
• Meg Hillier MP, Chair, Public Accounts Committee
• Natasha Devon MBE, Body Image and Mental Health Campaigner
• Caroline Bennet, Assistant Director, Social Care, Council for Disabled Children
• Gill Morris, Senior Health and Wellbeing and Cross Phase Adviser, Camden Council
• Andrea Shand, Head of Service, Oxfordshire CAMHS
• Hope Virgo, Mental Health Campaigner and Ambassador, Shaw Health Foundation
• Denise Burke, Found, United for All Ages
• Andrew Moffat, Assistant Head, Parkfield Community School.

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There are three ways to register: call: 0203 770 6580; email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; or click the link below to visit the event website.