Northampton Electronic Collection of Theses and Research

Evaluation of a new mental health service for looked after children

Callaghan, J., Young, B., Pace, F. and Vostanis, P. (2004) Evaluation of a new mental health service for looked after children. Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry. 9(1), pp. 130-148. 1359-1045.

Item Type: Article
Abstract: A mental health team for looked after children, and the evaluation of its first phase are presented. The team combines primary mental health worker, psychology and psychiatry skills. It offers telephone and face-to-face consultation to local authority staff, assessment, treatment and training. Forty-five children and their carers, who consecutively attended the service, were independently assessed by a researcher at the time of referral and at five-month follow-up. Outcome measures included the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), the Health of the Nation Outcome Scales for Children and Adolescents (HoNOSCA) and a service satisfaction questionnaire. At 5 months, children had significantly improved on a number of HoNOSCA scales, and on the emotional SDQ scales. Carers perceived the interventions as targeting different aspects of the child’s functioning, but wished they were more involved in decision-making. Carers and children were generally positive about their clinical contact. The findings are discussed in the context of developing mental health services for vulnerable children and young people, and interagency partnership.
Uncontrolled Keywords: Care; children; looked after; mental health; service
Subjects: R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine > RA790 Mental health services. Mental illness prevention
R Medicine > RJ Pediatrics > RJ499 Mental disorders. Child psychiatry
H Social Sciences > HV Social pathology. Social and public welfare. Criminology > HV697 Protection, assistance and relief > HV701 Children
Creators: Callaghan, Jane, Young, Bridget, Pace, Frances and Vostanis, Panos
Publisher: Sage
Faculties, Divisions and Institutes: University Faculties, Divisions and Research Centres - OLD > Research Group > Social and Cultural Research in Psychology Group
University Faculties, Divisions and Research Centres - OLD > Faculty of Health & Society > Psychology
Faculties > Faculty of Health & Society > Psychology
Research Centres > Centre for Psychology and Social Sciences
Date: 2004
Date Type: Publication
Page Range: pp. 130-148
Journal or Publication Title: Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry
Volume: 9
Number: 1
Language: English
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1359104504039177
ISSN: 1359-1045
Status: Published / Disseminated
URI: http://nectar.northampton.ac.uk/id/eprint/3524

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