The College of Psychiatrists of Ireland has called for an urgent and comprehensive overhaul of the governance and management of Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS), citing longstanding issues with under-funding, under-resourcing, and inadequate governance.
In a policy document released today, the college outlined its concerns, emphasizing that CAMHS has faced systemic challenges in aligning with key government mental health strategies, including the policy frameworks A Vision for Change and Sharing the Vision. According to the document, these frameworks have not been fully implemented due to structural and resource deficiencies within the service.
The college’s recommendations include a proposal for consultant child and adolescent psychiatrists to lead each CAMHS team, ensuring clinical expertise at the helm of service delivery. Additionally, it suggests the creation of a new senior management position—Clinical Service Manager (CSM)—at both team and regional levels. The CSM role would be pivotal in coordinating teams, overseeing service audits, assessing performance, and driving local and regional service development.
Furthermore, the College of Psychiatrists advocates for all CAMHS staff to undergo specialized, CAMHS-specific training. This would aim to elevate the standard of care and ensure a high level of expertise across the entire service.
Dr. Lorcan Martin, President of the College of Psychiatrists, stated that the proposed governance and management reforms would fundamentally transform CAMHS, positioning it as a world-class mental health service. He emphasized the urgency of government action to implement these changes.
The College of Psychiatrists of Ireland, which represents approximately 1,300 psychiatrists, is calling on the government to prioritize these reforms to address the ongoing challenges faced by CAMHS and improve outcomes for young people in need of mental health services.
Related Topics
