Why you should read this article:

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To recognise the challenges faced by young people, families and clinicians at discharge from CAMHS

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To enhance your understanding of the benefits of personalised care planning

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To read how the Positive Pathways service in Essex supports young people leaving CAMHS

Transitioning from child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) to adult services can be challenging for young people, their families and clinicians. Assessment of, and support for, young people’s needs at the point of transition can be enhanced through personalised care and support planning. This article describes a service improvement project which aimed to provide ‘step-down’ support for young people on discharge from a CAMHS. The service, called Positive Pathways, involved collaborative personalised care planning with a dedicated youth facilitator, social prescribing, and in some cases the provision of a personal health budget, to enable young people to access individualised support in their local community.