Norms for South African Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS)

Prior to this study, there were no South African norms for child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS). This study, conducted for the national Department of Health, surveyed international approaches to the development of CAMHS norms. Fieldwork was conducted in all nine provinces in order to assess the existing status of mental health care provision for children and adolescents. A computerized model for the calculation of minimum and full cover FTE staff norms was then developed. Norms were calculated for all facilities (from primary to specialist level) for each province. The staffing levels produced by the norms were then costed. Manuals to facilitate service planning and costing were developed for training managers in the provinces. No other country appears to have produced CAMHS staffing norms and costing solutions in this manner.