Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many requests have been made to the Specialist Commissioning team for secure placements or beds for children with mental health issues in the last 12 months.

The data requested is not currently available.

NHS England took responsibility for the commissioning of CAMH Tier 4 (inpatient) services in April 2013. A standardised approach to admissions was not in place which meant that a clear understanding of the numbers of cases referred, or the reasons for referral was not available.

The need for a national process for admissions was highlighted in the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) Tier 4 Report, published in July and NHS England have been working with young people and their families during August and September to develop an admissions standard protocol.

NHS Area Teams are currently discussing with relevant CAMHS providers the introduction of the protocol in November 2014. The protocol will be reviewed in January 2015.

NHS England anticipates that a standard protocol will be included in contracts from 2015. This will allow the standard recording of information for CAMHS Tier 4 admissions.