We held a CAMH stakeholder consultation event in March 2009. Stakeholders from across the range of agencies and organisations involved in CAMH came together to discuss the principles of ICPs and whether ICPs could add value within CAMH services. In addition to this event, our CAMH clinical advisor consulted a number of relevant national groups. The feedback from this consultation process was overwhelmingly positive with regard to applying the principles of ICPs to CAMH services. It was also agreed that a similar multidisciplinary and multi-agency standards development model would work well.

A CAMH ICP steering group was established in October 2009. This group agreed that the adult ICP standards should be used as the basis for development of CAMH specific standards. It was agreed that work would initially focus on the development of standards for a generic CAMH pathway.

The steering group also highlighted the importance of ensuring that the standards for CAMH services can stand alone and are not seen as an ‘add-on’ to the adult work. The steering group advised that two working subgroups should be established to take forward the review and adaptation of the existing standards. We established a service user and parent/carer subgroup and a generic subgroup  to take this work forward.

The members of our service user and parent/carer subgroup helped us to ensure that these standards are centred on the child or young person and reflect what they, and their parents/carers, see as important and helpful. In addition, they contributed to the design and development of the ‘Your Story’ consultation tool that was completed by 30 children and young people aged 7–18 years from across Scotland. An amended electronic version of the consultation tool and a separate ‘Your Story’ report will be produced.

Our knowledge management unit undertook a targeted literature search for up-to-date evidence and policy documents related to ICPs and CAMH services. Where no significant new evidence was identified, the adult ICP standards document, and its underpinning evidence base, is referenced within the standards for CAMH services. The subgroups appraised the relevant new literature, and comprehensive evidence and background reading tables were produced. The transferable aspects of the process, generic care and service improvement adult standards were updated to ensure that they fully reflect CAMH service organisation and delivery; CAMH specific standards were added as necessary. The standards for CAMH services are based on the available literature and the expertise of the subgroups and steering group members.

The steering group oversaw the work of the subgroups and the drawing together of these standards.