What Happens at a CAMHS Assessment?

If your child has finally reached the top of the CAMHS waiting list and an assessment appointment has arrived, you may be feeling a mixture of relief and apprehension. After what may have been a very long wait, the assessment is an important step, but many parents arrive not quite knowing what to expect.

This post aims to give you a clear picture of what the assessment involves, how to prepare, and what happens afterwards.

What is a CAMHS Assessment?

CAMHS waiting times vary significantly depending on where you live in the UK, the nature of your child's difficulties, and how urgently the referral has been flagged. Routine referrals in many parts of the country can involve waits of twelve to eighteen months, and in some areas families are waiting two years or more before being seen.

Urgent referrals, where there is a concern about immediate risk to the young person, are typically seen more quickly. However, the threshold for an urgent referral is high, and most referrals for anxiety, depression, OCD or other common conditions will be treated as routine regardless of how significantly they are affecting your child's daily life.

It is also worth knowing that the waiting time figures quoted by CAMHS services often refer to the time until a first appointment, which in many cases will be an initial assessment rather than the start of treatment. The wait for treatment to actually begin can be considerably longer.

Why Are CAMHS Waiting Times So Long?

This varies depending on the CAMHS service and the nature of your child's referral. In most cases the assessment will be conducted by a CAMHS clinician, which may be a psychiatrist, psychologist, therapist or specialist nurse. In some cases there will be more than one professional present.



Parents or carers are typically invited to attend, at least for part of the assessment. Younger children will usually be seen alongside a parent throughout. Teenagers may be seen alone for part of the appointment, as CAMHS clinicians will want to hear directly from the young person themselves. If your child is anxious about attending alone, it is worth discussing this with the CAMHS team in advance.

What Questions Will Be Asked?

The assessment will typically cover a wide range of areas, including your child's current difficulties, when the problems started, how they are affecting daily life, school attendance and performance, friendships and relationships, family circumstances, and any relevant medical or developmental history.

It can feel like a lot of ground to cover, and some parents find it helpful to make notes beforehand so they do not forget anything important. Think about when you first noticed the difficulties, how they have changed over time, and what impact they are having on your child and your family.



Your child will also be asked questions directly. CAMHS clinicians are experienced at speaking with young people and will try to make the conversation as comfortable as possible. It can be helpful to prepare your child for the fact that they will be asked about how they are feeling, without putting words in their mouth or creating additional anxiety about the appointment.

How Long Does the Assessment Last?

CAMHS assessments typically last between one and two hours, though this varies depending on the service and the complexity of your child's needs. Some assessments are conducted over more than one appointment.

What Happens After the Assessment?

Following the assessment, the CAMHS team will review the information gathered and determine the most appropriate next steps. There are several possible outcomes.

Your child may be offered a course of treatment within CAMHS, in which case you will be given information about what that involves and when it is likely to begin. In some cases there may be another wait before treatment starts.

Your child may be referred to a different service that is better placed to meet their needs, such as a specialist team, a different CAMHS pathway, or a community service.

In some cases, your child may be told that their needs do not meet the threshold for CAMHS intervention. This is more common than many parents realise, and can feel devastating after a long wait. It does not mean that your child does not need support, it means that CAMHS, as a service, is not able to provide it. If this happens, it is important to know that other options are available.

If CAMHS Cannot Help

Being told that your child does not meet the threshold for CAMHS support after a lengthy wait is one of the most difficult outcomes a parent can face. It is worth knowing that this decision is based on CAMHS's own criteria and capacity, and is not a reflection of whether your child genuinely needs help.



Private therapy is one option worth considering in this situation. A specialist private therapist who works exclusively with children and young people can often begin treatment quickly, without the waiting times and threshold criteria associated with CAMHS. If your child has been through a CAMHS assessment, you will also have a clearer picture of their needs, which can help inform the conversation with a private therapist.

At Sulis Therapies, we work with many young people who have been through the CAMHS process, whether they are still waiting, have been assessed and are awaiting treatment, or have been told that CAMHS is unable to help. We offer a free initial consultation to discuss your child's needs and find out how we can support them.