Multi-Agency Collaboration: The Challenges for CAMHS

The importance of multi-agency collaboration has been emphasised in virtually every piece of recently published guidance relating to the development of children's services including CAMHS. The Government Green Paper, Every child matters (DfES, 2003), which proposes the development of Children's Trusts, will further impact on this agenda. Surprisingly, there has been much less written about factors contributing to the success of multi-agency collaboration than there has about barriers to it. Research is beginning to emerge informing on key criteria required for the development of multi-agency collaborations for children with mental health problems. Much work remains to be undertaken on the use of language and definitions between agencies before a common understanding about children's needs and the services they require can evolve.