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Background:  Referral meetings are commonly used in CAMH Services to allocate a priority rating that reflects urgency, and thus severity, of the referral. Whilst it is recognised that a system is needed to manage the current level of demand, the literature suggests that decisions about severity are often inaccurate. Method:  The current study aimed to evaluate a CAMHS referral system by looking at whether the priority ratings allocated by the Multi‐Disciplinary Team (MDT) accorded with the parents’ and the individual clinician's perception of the severity of the child's difficulties. Data were taken from the Service's outcome database. Results:  The results showed that priority ratings did not reflect the parents’ and the individual clinician's perception of the problem. It is therefore suggested that the current system for prioritising referrals requires some reform. Conclusion:  There is discussion of procedures that might improve the accuracy of the priority rating process, such as using scores on standardised measures as part of the decision‐making process.

The experience of early abuse and neglect can predispose victims to mental health problems. Mental health awareness as an aspect of mental health literacy can prevent deterioration in mental health and promote post-abuse recovery. The lack of research on mental health awareness in carers means there is little understanding regarding the association between mental health awareness and their looked after children’s emotional and mental health needs. This study examined the impact of a counselling skills intervention on foster carers’ confidence in their mental health awareness and their ability to cope. This was done by enhancing communication skills. Foster carers undertook a training course in counselling skills of 30 hours duration. Data were collected before and after the course. Results indicated that foster carers believed they had a better understanding of looked after children’s emotional needs and their mental health. This study highlights the need for further training for foster carers.

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