Help needed to improve specialist children and young people’s inpatient mental health, autism and learning disability services

Two patient and public voice members are being recruited to a National Quality Improvement Taskforce to improve current specialist children and young people’s inpatient mental health, autism and learning disability services in England.

Potential candidates must have an understanding of, and interest in, inpatient mental health or learning disability or autism services. Ideally theushould also have experience of working in a committee setting. Members will be expected to:

• Assist the Taskforce in understanding the diverse perspectives of patients, carers and the public relevant to the work of the Taskforce and provide this viewpoint in all group activities.
• Provide ‘critical friend’ challenge into the group, test and probe constructively to achieve the best outcome for patients.
• Actively participate in regular face-to-face meetings (approximately every six weeks for the next 18 months).

Parent Council members are also being recruited to work with the Taskforce, which was established last autumn. The council will help to develop and test some of the pieces of work specifically aimed at parents of children and young people, and support communications about the work of the Taskforce to the wider parent community.

Applicants must be the parent or carer of a child or young person who has used inpatient CAMHS services in the last two years, and meets one of these criteria:

• has autism
• has an eating disorder
• has a general mental health disorder (for example, psychosis or depression)
• has a learning disability
• requires secure care
• is placed more than 50 miles from home
• is at risk of significant self-harm.