Access to Counselling: Key findings

17 Dec 2007

The briefing provides an overview of an evaluation examining the relationship between Youth Information, Advice and Counselling Services (YIACS) and Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS).

The aim of the investigation was to produce a solid evidence base to inform the development of a programme of information and resources to support and improve the relationship between YIACS and CAMHS commissioners.

The briefing provides a summary of the background and context to the investigation, the methods used, selected key findings and recommendations made for the development of a programme of resources and support.

The evaluation was part of the ‘Access to Counselling’ project (a2c), a two year project running from 2005 to 2007, funded by the Department of Health. The overarching aim of a2c is to improve young people’s access to mental health services by enabling voluntary sector youth counselling organisations to be effectively integrated into the planning and commissioning of services.