DEVELOPING GUIDELINES FOR COMMUNITY CHILD HEALTH STAFF AND EXAMINING THE REFERRAL PATHWAYS AND OUTCOMES OF CARE IN THE SUPPORT OF EMOTIONALLY AND BEHAVIORALLY DISTURBED-CHILDREN

The East Sussex Public Health Commissioners had enquired whether refer ral guidelines were needed to ensure that the children with the greate st concerns achieved support from the Child and Adolescent Mental Heal th Services (CAMHS). Community child health doctors and nurses recorde d all contacts with children with emotional and behavioural difficulti es (EBD) over a one month period. Data on presenting difficulties and on intervention pathways were recorded. The same children were reviewe d five months later and the outcome was measured by clinical assessmen t and by support offered. The work showed that child health staff were managing cases both through single advisory sessions and through plan ned on-going support. Additionally, the use of the three tier pathways recommended by the Department of Health was demonstrated. Analysis of recorded data was used to describe referral pathways and to give guid ance on the characteristics of children who needed referral to CAMHS.