Parent, carer and professional views of specialist child and adolescent mental health care during the COVID-19 pandemic
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/JCS-09-2021-0036 |
| Published date | 30 August 2022 |
| Date | 30 August 2022 |
| Pages | 251-264 |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care,Vulnerable groups,Children's services,Sociology,Sociology of the family,Children/youth,Parents,Education,Early childhood education,Home culture,Social/physical development |
| Author | Philip John Archard,Emma Giles,Isobel Moore,Sewanu Awhangansi,Siobhan Fitzpatrick,Leanne Kulik,Michelle O’Reilly |
Parent, carer and professional views of
specialist child and adolescent
mental health care during the
COVID-19 pandemic
Philip John Archard, Emma Giles, Isobel Moore, Sewanu Awhangansi, Siobhan Fitzpatrick,
Leanne Kulik and Michelle O’Reilly
Abstract
Purpose –The purpose of this paper is to reportfindings from a service evaluation undertaken withina
single specialistchild and adolescent mental health service(CAMHS) team. The team works closelywith
local authoritychildren’s services to serve specific populationsrecognised as experiencing higher levels
of mental health need, including children living in alternative care and with adoptive families. The
evaluation sought to betterunderstand the experience of this provision during the COVID-19 pandemic
and concomitantincrease in remote and digitallymediated care delivery.
Design/methodology/approach –Analysis of the accounts of 38 parents, carers and professionals
involvedwith the team gathered via telephoneinterviews and email and postal questionnaires.
Findings –Similar views were expressedfrom participants involved with the team beforeand following
the onset of the pandemic. Overall, satisfaction was high; however, changes in care appeared more
challenging for those already involved with the team before the pandemic. Differences in experience
between groups were also evident.Whereas foster carers’ accounts were generally appreciativeof the
involvementof clinicians, particularly regardingclinician–patient relationships,amongst adoptive parents
and membersof children’s birth families there were more mixedand negative impressions.
Originality/value –Locally based service evaluations can help inform care pathway planning in
specialist CAMHS provision as part of wider quality improvement initiatives. This is especially relevant
consideringthe repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic and as the longer-termacceptability of remote
workingpractices is appraised.
Keywords Adoptive families, Child and adolescent mental health, COVID-19, Looked-after children,
Service evaluation, Telemental health
Paper type Case study
Introduction
Much can be said about the level of psychological distress generated by the COVID-19
pandemic and its impact on child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHSs) in the
UK (Children’s Commissioner, 2020;Children’s Society, 2020;Di Nicola and Daly, 2020).
The public health measures designed to curb the spread of the virus have also influenced
care delivery as services turned to digital and telephone-based service delivery
necessitated by social distancing measures. These mediums have been invaluable in
ensuring the accessibility and continuity of care. Their widespread use has prompted
organisational reliance on clinic settings to be reappraised, particularly with respect to cost
implications and the widening of access to psychotherapeutic treatment in situations where
travel arrangements or geographical location are barriers (Feijt et al.,2020;Power et al.,
(Informationabout the
authorscan be found at the
end of this article.)
Received 11 September 2021
Revised 15 July 2022
Accepted 28 July 2022
The service evaluation reported
received no specific grant
from any funding agency,
commercial or not-for-profit
sectors.
DOI 10.1108/JCS-09-2021-0036 VOL. 17 NO. 4 2022, pp. 251-264, ©Emerald Publishing Limited, ISSN 1746-6660 jJOURNAL OF CHILDREN’S SERVICES jPAGE 251
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