Routine Outcome Measurement in a Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service: An Evaluation of HoNOSCA

2001 ◽  
Vol 35 (3) ◽  
pp. 370-376 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Brann ◽  
Grahame Coleman ◽  
Ernest Luk
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Service ◽  
Health Service ◽  
Interrater Reliability ◽  
Outcome Measurement ◽  
Adolescent Mental Health ◽  
Child And Adolescent ◽  
Good Reliability ◽  
Routine Outcome Measurement ◽  
Adolescent Mental Health Service

Objective: This paper evaluates a range of properties for a clinician-based instrument designed for routine use in a child and adolescent mental health service (CAMHS). Method: The Health of the Nation Outcome Scales for Children and Adolescents (HoNOSCA) is a new outcome measure with great promise. Case vignettes were used to examine interrater reliability. HoNOSCA was implemented for routine outpatient use by multidisciplinary staff with a return rate of 84%. The 305 ratings obtained at assessment were analysed by age, gender and diagnosis. Asample of 145 paired ratings with a 3-month interval were examined for the measurement of change over time. Results: Interrater reliability of the total score indicates moderate reliability if absolute scores are used and good reliability if the total score is used for relative comparisons. Most scales have good to very good reliability. The scales discriminated between age and gender in the expected way. HoNOSCA correlated with clinicians’ views of change and was sensitive to change over a 3-month period. The total score seemed a proxy for severity. Conclusion: Routine outcome instruments must be explored in settings where they will be used and with realistic training. HoNOSCA appears to be of value in routine outcome measurement and although questions remain about reliability and validity, the results strongly support further investigation.

scholarly journals A child and adolescent mental health service for children with intellectual disabilities – 8 years on

2010 ◽  
Vol 34 (5) ◽  
pp. 195-199
Author(s):  
Barry Wright ◽  
Chris Williams ◽  
Marcella Sykes
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Service ◽  
Health Service ◽  
Intellectual Disabilities ◽  
Child Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Adolescent Mental Health ◽  
Child And Adolescent ◽  
Specialist Service ◽  
Adolescent Mental Health Service

SummaryThis paper reports on the last 8 years in the development of a child mental health learning disability service. The growth, challenges and pitfalls faced by the service are charted here. The paper also shows how a service can cope with rising demand without the development of waiting lists and how a specialist service can be embedded within a generic child and adolescent mental health service (CAMHS) as a tier 3 team, thus creating synergies and commonalities of purpose, while avoiding service gaps that inevitably arise from separate services with specific referral criteria. This is a healthy service model that meets the needs of local children with moderate to severe intellectual disabilities and concomitant child mental health problems.

scholarly journals Allocation of referrals within a child and adolescent mental health service

1998 ◽  
Vol 22 (8) ◽  
pp. 487-489 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sophie Roberts ◽  
Ian Partridge
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Service ◽  
Mental Health Services ◽  
Health Service ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Response Rate ◽  
Adolescent Mental Health ◽  
Child And Adolescent ◽  
Adolescent Mental Health Service ◽  
Multi Disciplinary Team

Long waiting lists are a common problem in child and adolescent mental health services. We describe how referrals to the service in York are considered and allocated by a multi-disciplinary team. The criteria for allocation to different professionals and specialist teams are described and data representing a snapshot of referrals and response rate over a three-month period presented, showing that most referrals are seen within two months. We postulate that consideration of referrals in this way is an effective and efficient way of running a service.

The use of HoNOSCA in a child and adolescent mental health service

2003 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 52-55 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julie Manderson ◽  
Noel McCune
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Service ◽  
Health Service ◽  
Peer Relationships ◽  
Aggressive Behaviour ◽  
Adolescent Mental Health ◽  
Child And Adolescent ◽  
Initial Assessment ◽  
Adolescent Mental Health Service ◽  
The Impact

AbstractObjectives: To assess the health and social functioning of patients attending a Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) and to measure the impact of attendance using the Health of the Nation Outcome Scales for Children and Adolescents (HoNOSCA).Method: HoNOSCA was completed on 73 consecutive patients attending for initial assessment with a review assessment being completed after six months or at discharge from the clinic if this occurred sooner on 53 of these. The impact of attendance at the clinics was determined by comparing initial and review mean HoNOSCA Scores.Results: Of the 53, 66% were male and 34% female. Boys were more highly rated with regard to aggressive behaviour, performance in peer relationships and family life relationships whilst girls were rated as having more nonorganic and emotional symptoms. Older children showed the highest rates of poor school attendance, non accidental (self) injury and emotional problems while younger children showed the greatest aggressive behaviour and language skill problems. An improvement in the total HoNOSCA score from initial assessment to review was seen in 92%. There was an improvement in the HoNOSCA mean score from initial assessment to review.Conclusions: Age, sex and symptom profiles of patients attending the service were similar to other CAMHS. Attendance at CAMHS produces improvements in patient outcomes over a six month period as measured using HoNOSCA, which proved to be a useful if somewhat time consuming tool.

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