Southern Trust launches new 'Step 2' Intellectual Disability Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service

by Gráinne Connolly

The Southern Health and Social Care Trust has recently hosted an event for parents and children/young people to launch a new ‘Step 2’ aspect of the Intellectual Disability Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (ID CAMHS).

One in forty children have an intellectual disability, which means they have difficulty understanding information and learning the skills needed for everyday life

Dr Heather Hanna, Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist in Intellectual Disability for the Southern Trust explains:

“Children with an intellectual disability are at least four times more likely to develop a significant mental health, emotional or behavioural problem than the average across the childhood population.

"We want these children to have the same access to specialist therapeutic intervention when they experience these difficulties as every other young person.”

(Orna and Eimear Connolly from Armagh at ID CAMHS Step 2 launch)

Clare McGee, Senior Practitioner and Manager for the Step 2 Intellectual Disability CAMHS adds:

“The ID CAMH service work directly with children/young people and their families offering a ‘Stepped Care’ approach which means that services are based on what service users need, rather than what services have to offer. 

“Step 2 Intellectual Disability (ID) Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) focuses on early detection and provision of preventative support to children and families. Services are offered at the most appropriate step initially, and can be “stepped up” to more intensive or specialist services when required. 

“We have a strong co-production ethos, recognising the expertise of service users and their families and carers in their own health care needs and are striving for the service to be truly designed and delivered for, with, and by our children/young people and their families.

"I would like to thank all of the families who have taken part in our projects to date; we have been very encouraged by how enthusiastically our families have embraced our service, to try new things, and to help us to deliver an innovative service. 

"We want to thank them for speaking out and being brilliant”. 

(Rebecca Greenaway spoke at the Step 2 launch on behalf of her family)

At the event, a video created by families who access the service was launched to share their story, allow their children’s voices to be heard, and to be a source of information and support to other parents.

The team also reflected on their inaugural therapeutic residential to Corrymeela in August 2017, with parents and siblings sharing their memories and highlights.

Families received feedback on the Co-Production Engagement Project which was undertaken with families to gather their views on the service and to hear their thoughts on how the service could be improved.  Attendees also heard plans for the service during 2018, such as the development of a Parent Support Group, User Forum and a Sibling Group which aim to help families engage with and support each other.

That film can be viewed in the following link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GzIPi_iBT00&feature=youtu.be