AOTI Welcomes National Review of CAMHS Services

The Association of Occupational Therapists of Ireland (AOTI) welcomes the recent Mental Health Commission statement, which follows the publication of the Maskey report on child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS).

In its statement the Mental Health Commission states, “the Inspector of Mental Health Services, Dr Susan Finnerty, will be conducting an independent review of the provision of CAMHS in accordance with her powers under the 2001 Act. Dr Finnerty had scheduled to do this review prior to publication of the HSE report in order to assess whether there had been improvements in CAMHS provision since a similar review in 2017. The scope of the Inspector’s review will include the number and resourcing of teams, training and expertise, facilities, governance structures and processes, good practice initiatives, young people and their families’ involvement, and any other matters deemed relevant. The MHC will publish the Inspector’s report and its recommendations.”

AOTI welcomes this national review of CAMHS services by the Mental Health Commission. AOTI also welcomes the following recommendations from the Mental Health Commission’s statement:

• For there to be independent oversight of the implementation of the recommendations of the Maskey report.
• For the Commission to be given full regulatory powers over all areas of mental health services in Ireland including community mental health services.
• For the reinstatement of the role of National Director for Mental Health in the HSE.

Occupational therapists are key members of CAMHS teams, carrying out both Occupational Therapy-specific and multidisciplinary team roles. AOTI affirms the specific role of Occupational Therapy in CAMHS and the value of our unique focus on occupation in assessment, intervention and discharge planning. This is the primary role of occupational therapists in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services. The AOTI Child and Adolescent Mental Health Advisory Group is currently finalising a position paper on the role of Occupational Therapy in CAMHS, which we will publish this year.