Child and Adolescent Mental Health Interface Work with Primary Services: A Survey of NHS Provider Trusts

BACKGROUND: We document the extent, nature and predictors of interface work between secondary Child and Adolescent Mental Health (CAMHS) and primary services, through structured questionnaires sent to all Trusts with CAMHS in England (returned by 124/150 or 83%). RESULTS: Two-thirds of CAMHS reported training and education to primary care services, about one-third a structured consultation service, one-fifth reported undertaking outpatient clinics in primary care settings and joint casework. One-third had developed primary mental health worker posts. Multiple regression analysis identified firstly specialist clinics within CAMHS, and secondly CAMHS size, as the strongest predictors of interface work across agencies. Interface work thus grows with more developed, larger CAMHS.