Care Opinion Ireland

I was involved with CAMHS Sligo

Posted By ANNA

"I was involved with CAMHS Sligo"

About: Sligo/Leitrim Mental Health Services / Sligo Child and Adolescent Community Mental Health Services

(as a parent/guardian),

I was involved with CAMHS in Sligo in relation to my adopted child who has a diagnosis of FAS  (Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder).

I was referred to CAMHS after an AON (Assessment of Need) assessment. I found HSE child psychologist who did the AON assessment excellent and a great support but did not have the same satisfaction with CAMHS. I find it very unsatisfactory that a doctor who sees a child for the first time and after ten minutes asks them to draw a tree/ their family then comments that because the tree trunk is very small and the boy's tee shirt was shaded in with pencil that this means the child lacks confidence!

All matters discussed at all times whilst the child was in the room to the extent that my son actually interrupted at one stage to say that I Dont Drink Alcohol.  I would be called into meetings once or twice a year and would leave none the wiser. In the end I went privately for assessment.

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Responses

Response from Patrick Ellwood, CBT Therapist, Community Mental Health Team, Sligo Leitrim Mental Health Service 8 years ago
Patrick Ellwood
CBT Therapist, Community Mental Health Team,
Sligo Leitrim Mental Health Service

CBT Therapist

Submitted on 10/11/2016 at 17:29
Published on Care Opinion Ireland on 11/11/2016 at 11:57

picture of Patrick Ellwood

Dear Anna

Thank you for taking the time to post your feedback on your experiences attending Sligo/Leitrim Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services.

First, I am encouraged by your positive comments relating to the Community Psychology clinician you worked with as part of the AON process.

However, as a member of the CAMHS team it is always disappointing when a family feel they have received an unsatisfactory service; in this case a negative clinical experience.

I hope you will appreciate that it would not be right for me to comment on a negative clinical experience without consideration of confidentiality and a more detailed picture and understanding of your experience. With that in mind, I am more than happy to discuss your CAMHS experience(s) directly via email or personally.

As a CAMHS team it would always be our intention and responsibility to explain as best possible our assessment, treatment practice and follow up care plan to children and families.

I have copied your comments to the managers of the service in order that they can discuss them with staff to ensure they reflect on your experiences for the benefits of anyone attending clinic appointments. This will be done through the upcoming Team Meetings.

Once again, I thank you for taking the time for providing your feedback and am sorry that your experiences have not been positive.

Yours sincerely,

Patrick Ellwood (Team Coordinator - CAMHS)

Email: patrick.ellwood@hse.ie

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Response from Joanne O'Halloran, Senior Clinical Psychologist, Sligo/Leitrim Mental Health Service, HSE 8 years ago
Joanne O'Halloran
Senior Clinical Psychologist, Sligo/Leitrim Mental Health Service,
HSE

I meet with service users and sometimes with their families. I assess psychological problems and provide psychological interventions in an effort to help service users overcome their difficulties.

Submitted on 11/11/2016 at 10:54
Published on Care Opinion Ireland at 11:57

picture of Joanne O'Halloran

Dear Anna,

In relation to your positive experience attending the Community Child Psychologist through the Assessment of Need Process, I have forwarded your story to the Principal Psychology Manager and the staff in the department.

Thank you for sharing your experience of the services.

Kind regards,

Joanne O'Halloran

Clinical Psychologist

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