PART 3: What information is needed for GP/ CAMHS assessment?
The follow is the approach of assessment and questions that are likely to appear in an assessment appointment. A good preparation and the provision of the right information will help in getting the appropriate supports for the children and young people.
- Current concerns / problems of parents and children
- Has anything happened recently to make your child/you seek help at this time?
- Duration of the problem existed
- Severity of the Problem (Outside of usual development of the individual child/young person and current circumstances)
A. Any risk?
- Self-harm behaviour (increasing frequency, unsafe methods, intent to harm, few coping strategies, lack of resilience)
- Harm to others
- Suicide ideation; intent to end life, plan in place, little or no protective factors, means to carry out plan, previous attempts
- Misuse of substances impacting on safety and functioning of the child/young person
- Engaging with risky / harmful sexual activities
- Harmful use of social media which is negatively impacting on emotional / mental health
B. Any Health Issue?
- Increased or reduced appetite
- Concerning changes in sleep pattern
- Concerning changes in weight
- Concerning eating habits
- Excessive exercise
- Increased physical symptoms which may be psychosomatic (headaches, stomach aches etc with no other explanation)
- Worsening of diagnosed chronic health conditions (with no other explanation)
- Onset of acute physical illness
- Co-morbidities e.g autism spectrum disorder/attention deficit hyperactivity disorder/tics/tourettes/intellectual disability
C. Any Negative Thoughts?
- Distorted thought patterns
- Acting on intrusive thoughts
- Increasing level of distress from intrusive thoughts
- Unhelpful thoughts which impact on the ability to function
- Flashbacks
D. Any Mood Issue?
- Irritability
- Aggression
- Withdrawn
- Isolating
- Manic
- Feeling low
- Tearful
- Over-sensitive
- Difficulty in controlling emotions
E. Impact on the child/young person’s family, education and social relationships
Impact on Family relationship
- Withdrawing from family members
- Needing to have more contact with family members than before
- Increased arguments / conflict
- Concerns regarding parenting ability / lack of parent support/comfort
- Excessive reassurance seeking from child/young person
- Change in family activities
- Change in family set up/dynamics
- Loss or bereavement
- Mental and physical health of family members which may impact on the young person
Impact on Education and Learning
- Attendance dropping
- Persistent absences / truanting
- Attainment changing
- Change in motivation / lack of engagement
- Change of concentration level
- Behaviour pattern changing (withdrawal / challenging etc)
Impact on Social Relationships
- Changes in friendship groups
- Bullying behaviour or Subject of bullying
- Change in quality of friendships such as are they still communicating with friends?
- Loss or bereavement
- Engaging with inappropriate relationships
Impact on Social Functioning
- Decreased enjoyment of previously enjoyed activities and/or interests
- Withdrawal from activities
- Lack of engagement
- Change in self-care skills (change in how they dress / present themselves)
- Offending behaviour / persistent anti-social behaviour
- Over-familiar/over-friendly
Relevant psychosocial and family issues including who is in the family or important people in the kinship system
- Big family events
- Illnesses
The Responses to previous attempts to help / To what extent the problem has improved If the child or young person has already received support from one of the following parties?
- School health service involvement
- Student support within school
- Family service intervention
- Private/voluntary counselling
- School counselling
- Domestic abuse services
- Bereavement services
- Relevant voluntary agencies
- self-help websites
