There are many different resources, key documents and websites, that you may find of interest. You can see them by clicking on the links (in red).
Key E-bulletins
DH Children, Families and Maternity e-bulletin
The Children, Families and Maternity Team produce a monthly e-bulletin for internal and external stakeholder groups designed to provide them with regular updates on activities that are supporting the delivery of the Be Healthy outcome for children, young people and families through the Every Child Matters: Change for Children agenda.
Key documents
Aiming High For Children: Supporting Families (HM Treasury & DfES, March 2007)
This document by the HM Treasury and the Department for Education and Skills sets out the outcomes of the Policy Review of Children and Young People. It explains the background to this Review and the process that has underpinned it
This report, which contains 20 recommendations for Government, sets out a clear vision for how we can all take responsibility for promoting children’s psychological well-being and mental health and how we can best achieve a step change in the quality and consistency of services at all levels.
Children's National Service Framework Documents (DH & DfES)
The Children's NSF is a 10-year programme intended to stimulate long-term and sustained improvement in children's health. Setting standards for health and social services for children, young people and pregnant women, the NSF aims to ensure fair, high quality and integrated health and social care from pregnancy, right through to adulthood.
Distict Council Briefing on Every Child Matters (TEN, March 2006)
This briefing summarises a guidance document published by the DfES in December 2005, in response to requests for further guidance on the roles and contributions district and county councils can make to delivering better outcomes for children. It is intended to help partners as they identify their priorities for joint planning and action in support of the Every Child Matters agenda.
Drawing on the Evidence: Advice for mental health professionals working with children and adolescents (Second Edition 2006)
This updated version of a booklet first published in 2002 aims to summarise key lessons from the current evidence base to inform the work of those working in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS).
Emotional Well-being and Mental Health Toolkit
In recent years schools have reported much higher levels of challenging behaviour from children and young people as well as a marked increase in stress, depression, anxiety and self harm often leading to worrying behaviour and an inability to learn. With the ‘Every Child Matters' agenda now firmly in place and the additional responsibilities that this places on schools, there is often from them a cry for help, advice and support.
In response to the schools' needs this toolkit was produced with the aim of providing support and advice. The toolkit is Bristol specific but could be a useful template that can be customised for other localities.
Every Child Matters: Change for Children (Nov 2004)
Multi-agency working is an effective, challenging way of supporting children and families with additional needs and securing real improvements in their life outcomes. The Change for Children programme paves the way for more multi-agency services delivering a range of early intervention and preventive work in and close to schools and early years settings.
This online resource is for frontline managers and practitioners in a range of settings, who are starting to work with children and families in these new ways. It contains specialised toolkits to support their work.
Improving the psychological wellbeing and mental health of children and young people: Commissioning early intervention support services. Guidance for commissioners on the requirements of PSA 12, indicator 4, 4th proxy measure.
This guide aims to enable Local Authorities (LAs) and Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) to assess their progress in meeting the requirements of PSA 12/indicator 4/proxy measure 4 (for their specific returns via the CAMHS Mapping and Vital Signs respectively). This measures the extent to which: The local authority and PCT work in partnership to commission a full range of early intervention support services, delivered in universal settings and through targeted services, for children experiencing mental health problems.
Involving Children & Young People in Meetings and Reviews (Yorkshire & Humberside SEN Partnership)
Participation and the involvement of children and young people is a theme which runs through all recent government legislation, including Every Child Matters, as well as through the new inspection framework for children's services.
This participation pack, was developed by the Yorkshire and Humberside SEN Regional Partnership to support the involvement of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities in reviews, meetings and decision making.
Mental Health Promotion: A Toolkit for Commissioners and Local Strategic Partnerships
This document was developed to support commissioners, Local Strategic Partnerships and colleagues in the development and delivery of best practice in the promotion of mental health and well-being.
Promoting Mental Health for Children Held in Secure Settings (DH, Mar 2007)
This document aims to ensure that children in custodial and other secure settings have access to comprehensive child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) to which all children are entitled.
Working Together to Safeguard Children (HM Gov, Apr 2006)
Working Together to Safeguard Children sets out how individuals and organisations should work together to safeguard and promote the welfare of children.
Transition: getting it right for young people (DH, Mar 2006)
This Good Practice Guide aims to show that the handover from children's and young people's services to adult services should be planned and managed as a process. The Guide suggests how this can best be accomplished in the context of the evidence base.
Useful Websites and Weblinks
CAMHS Outcome Research Consortium Website
Department of Health Website - Commissioning Pages
Department of Health Website - Health reform in England Pages
Every Child Matters: Change for Children Website
Integrated Service Improvement Programme Website
National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) Website
Royal College of Paediatrics & Child Health Publications
SEBDA (Social Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties Association) Website