Independent investigation: Leonne Weeks, Dinnington (2017)

RDaSH should introduce either training and/or a mentoring programme for their adult mental health practitioners who are required to undertake out-of-hour assessments of young people in Accident and Emergency Departments, to ensure they have the required skills, competencies and knowledge base to undertake assessments of the needs and risks of young people. Evidence of the introduction of this training should be provided to Sancus Solutions at their assurance review.

When RDaSH practitioners and clinical staff make a significant entry in a patient’s SystmOne records, such as a risk assessment or a change in the treatment plan, they should alert the patient’s primary care service, by email or telephone, that an entry has been made. Evidence of this being introduced should be provided to Sancus Solutions at their assurance review.

RDaSH should undertake a review of the current CAMHS weekly clinical meetings in order to facilitate the attendance of the practitioners and the CAMHS named professional safeguarding children officer. Evidence of a review of the clinical meetings should be provided to Sancus Solutions at their assurance review.

RDaSH should undertake a comprehensive audit of the Rotherham CAMHS FACE assessments and care plans. This audit should be cross-referencing cases to the relevant practitioner’s clinical supervision documentation and, where relevant, the minutes of the weekly clinical meetings and monthly complex patient meetings. Evidence of RDaSH undertaking the audit of CAMHS patient records should be provided to Sancus Solutions at their assurance review.

RDaSH’s CAMHS should develop an overarching operational policy that includes comprehensive guidelines for completing CAMHS FACE assessments and care plans. Evidence of RDaSH introducing guidelines for completing FACE assessments and care plans within their CAMHS operational policy should be provided to Sancus Solutions at their assurance review.

RDaSH should convene a team risk training event for the Rotherham CAMHS team, which all clinical and managerial members of staff should be required to attend. Evidence that CAMHS team risk assessment training has taken place should be provided to Sancus Solutions at their assurance review.