For CAMHS to work at its best, it is essential that we listen to feedback from children, young people and parents who access our services. We value your mental health experience and the unique insight you have in accessing our services in influencing how we can improve various elements of our services.

Involvement and participation can take a number of forms, such as focus groups, surveys, questionnaires, fun events and so on.

Some of the things in which children, young people and parents have been involved include:

  • Creating and designing this website, including sharing their stories
  • Improving the look and feel of the waiting area. This has included adding magazine subscriptions, a picture board, toys, reading materials and child/youth friendly decor
  • Staff interviews: sitting on the panels, designing questions and giving feedback
  • Redesigning leaflets, posters, invitations and first appointment letters
  • Completing feedback questionnaires and online surveys
  • Designing a quarterly newsletter
  • Talking to groups in schools about CAMHS

Please let your local team know if this is something that you would be keen to be involved with and they can let you know the process and way to get involved.

Parents Advisory Forum

If you would like to help, advise on or get involved with service improvement efforts, the Parents Advisory Forum meets on alternate months to discuss parents’ views on how we can better run and develop our services.

To get involved or for more information, please contact Julia Foskett, julia.foskett@nhs.net.

We look forward to hearing from you.

For young people

If you are a child or young person and would like to find out about opportunities to meet others for support and fun there are regular children and young people activity groups.

Please contact your local team get in touch with your local Participation Worker for further information.

For parents and carers

Parents and Carers Information and Support Group

When our children are going through a difficult time we can feel alone, anxious and unsure. This group aims to create a space to think about how you can support your children and each other to cope during difficult times.

The group is a confidential, relaxed space for parents and carers of children and young people who are seen in CAMHS, and includes presentations and information from specialists on topics you want to know more about and a chance to meet and chat with other parents to share ideas and experiences.

The group meets regularly and via Zoom making it as accessible as possible.

If you are interested, please speak to your child’s Lead Professional in CAMHS or contact Demetra Brege on ashtreeclinic@nhs.net.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Your resources

For further information on useful websites, apps, local resources and information across a range of health and wellbeing topics, please see Your resources.

Complete our online friends and family test survey

The Friends and Family Test

The NHS friends and family test (FFT) helps us understand whether you are happy with our service or if we need to change something to improve the quality of service you get. It is a simple and anonymous way to tell us what you think of the care or treatment you received in the NHS.

The FFT was launched in 2013 and is available across most NHS services. If you have received care from one of our services recently, the FFT will ask you whether you would recommend our services to your friends and family.

How to complete the Friends and Family Test

You may complete an online version of the FFT by clicking here to tell us what you think.

You can also complete a paper version of the survey at home or at one of our sites/services and send it back to us by post – ask a member of staff for a copy.

Your feedback is important. If you have something to say about our services or your experience - a compliment, complaint or concern - please contact your healthcare professional in the first instance.

Alternatively, you can contact our Patient Feedback and Complaints Service to make a complaint or to send us a compliment or feedback.

You can write to us at:

Patient Feedback and Complaints Service
Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust
350 Euston Road, Regent's Place, London NW1 3AX.

You can also contact us by telephone or email.

Tel: 0300 013 4799

Email: feedback.cnwl@nhs.net 

You can also give your feedback via the Friends and Family Test.