In 2011 the Guardian’s Office audited 60 case files from five Families SA offices to understand the extent and nature of unmet need in mental health services for children and young people in care. The audit did not attempt to examine the quality or outcomes of the intervention.
The audit showed that the majority of children and young people whose files were viewed received a service. However, many needs were not being met for reasons which included:
- assessments that did not focus exclusively or primarily on the child’s mental health
- delays between assessment and provision of the service and
- little integration of mental health issues and progress into case planning and annual reviews.
Read the findings and recommendations in the Unmet need in mental health services summary on our website.
