For details of our available training posts in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services, please click here: CAMHS available training placements
Training Programme Director
Dr Neelo Aslam, Neelo.Aslam@mft.nhs.uk
A typical day in the life of a CAMHS trainee...
5pm: On call starts. Check into Premier Inn from where I do my on calls. Ring round all the hospitals to check they have my phone numbers. Eat my supper before any calls start!
7pm: starting to relax, nothing so far.
9:30pm: Phone call from Arrowe Park Hospital. 12 year old boy with autism and behavioural difficulties brought to A/E by parents saying he wanted to kill himself. He had tied his dressing gown belt around his neck (fairly loosely). Seemed to be related to exam stress. Seen by ST3 A/E who was admitting him to the Paediatric ward but was informing me.
2am: called by Countess of Chester Social worker re Section 136 (MHA). 15-year old girl, well known to A/E and CAMHS. Previously admitted to Ancora House. Police had been called as she was walking along the middle of a busy road. She had told them she wanted to die but refused to expand. They were not sure if she had been drinking or used drugs.
Initially she was very hostile but with a little persistence we established a good rapport with her and heard about her abusive home situation and her feelings of low mood, anger, hopelessness, and suicidal intent. Initially she refused to consider admission, parents were refusing to have her at home. Again, after spending some time with her she agreed to overnight admission given that I would speak to her CAMHS team in the morning and ensure she had a follow-up appointment. She was able to be admitted informally.
Wrote up care notes on computer.
5am: Leave hospital.
9am: Contact CAMHS – her case worker will see her on the ward this morning.
9:30am: New patient assessment…