Elysium Healthcare: The Transition from CYPMHS to an Adult Service
Transitioning from a children and young people mental health service (CYPMHS) to adult mental health services can be a complex process, involving multiple agencies who often struggle to effectively engage with each other. For the young person at the centre of this multifaceted system, it can be a difficult and confusing time. They are often subjected to standardised rules, applied on the day they turn 18, rather than decisions based on their individual assessed needs.
A 2004 investigation report on transition by HSSIB1, officially recommended that providers of inpatient CYPMHS services could improve a young person’s safety by ensuring there was not “a blanket approach to safeguarding mitigation measures based on a person’s age”. Instead, the report called for mitigation measures to be “individualised and based on behaviours and risks.” Transition processes based on need rather than age were shown to improve standards of care and individual wellbeing.
This personalised approach is also advocated by Dr Carolina Schneider, CYPMHS Medical Director at Elysium Healthcare, who oversees the transition process for young people with a wide range of disorders and complex needs at Potters Bar Clinic, a CYPMHS Tier 4 low secure service. In this EveryExpert article, we discuss the pitfalls of a blanket approach to transition with Dr Schneider and why personalisation leads to much improved outcomes for young people.
We also speak with Colleen Fahy, Regional CYPMHS Quality Manager, Regional Safeguarding Lead & Working Together Facilitator, about how Elysium Healthcare has recently reviewed its CYPMHS transition policy for inpatient services and incorporated new criteria to make the process more personalised. Colleen explains how a transition led by individual risk assessments, can be a smoother process and yield better results for the young person.