Calderdale Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) Tier 3 - South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

My child was referred urgently to the service, May 2016, we have seen one therapist who actioned further support. No further support has been actioned. Managers never call back, staff never call back , emails are also ignored. This is a terrible service, it is supposed to help young people with mental health difficulties. I can not believe all the hassle, I was so pleased when we were referred and seen quickly that we were moving towards more help

After being on waiting list for a long time (over 12 months) had initial referral to proceed with asc assessment - SALT cancelled two of three assessments and initial assessment resulted in no diagnosis. Upon asking for this to be reviewed this was done but despite providing comprehensive evidence to camhs to support asc, still no diagnosis given. Camhs use an outdated and widely-critised model of diagnosis, DSM 5, which is not fit for purpose and is unsuitable for diagnosis of autism in girls. I would rate zero stars if that were possible.

Service was responsive from the initial referral being made by school and the Assessment was done quickly. The doctor we saw spoke honestly and openly about medications. My son had a good experience

Difficult to get hold of people directly, waited weeks for a call back. Waited months for limited help.

The threshold for intervention is way too high. Even once you've endured waiting lists the service is poor and ineffectual.

There is no preventive help, no therapy.
Despite several self harm attempts, suicide attempts and referrals from a variety of professionals. There is absolutely no care , I have been told there is no money for preventing the above and only a crisis team available if the above happens again. I regularly stay up all night to prevent my child ending their life!

My (then) 4 year old was referred last summer. I expected a few months of waiting but once it was over 6 months - especially after being told by the Speech Therapist he had been "fast tracked" - I became concerned and followed this up. I was then told "if I were you I would go private" and "to wait another year is optimistic". There seems to be no real structure to when people get seen. Another thing I was also told when I queried wait times was "you were not on the main pathway, you were on a different pathway that leads to this pathway, but now you are on the main pathway" . We need clear language and clear wait times from the onset. Still waiting for a response to my official complaint submitted in March but the South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust who run CAMHS TIER 3 tell me they don't have a designated time to respond to complaints, although they "aim" for 40 days. This has now elapsed. Hopefully when I do get to see them it will have been worth it and the trust will be able to justify their recent (April) CQC "Good" rating. This website asks about if we would recommend this organisation. Unfortunately if you live in Calderdale and don't have the money to go private, as far as I understand it, you are stuck with them regardless. Choice is a privilege.

Saw initially over 12 months ago. They promised to ring June last year. Heard nothing. Paed chased twice. I ring regularly. They never ring back. Just waiting and waiting. They don't offer any other help whilst you wait. Don't they care about the kids who will grow to be the adult of this country?? So very sad. My child struggling but they just say you have to wait and you're lucky it's not as long as other areas!!!! Who really cares about our kids?

Six months ago my daughter was once again assessed and we agreed on child psychotherapy. Told there would be a 5 month wait. I have called CAHMS 3 times in the last 2 months, most recent call was last week to update them of my daughter wishing to be male and self harming. I was told someone would be in touch by the end of last week to tell me where on the list my daughter is. Not heard from them!

Eldest child has ADHD hasn't been seen for 3years , no medication review or anything, they have forgotten about him again, not the first time either. Second child had 6 sessions and that was it the phycologist was more interested in her pregnancy.