Children's mental health services upgraded to good rating

Summarised from 4 outlets · Updated 15 Oct, 06:00 · Archive

The Care Quality Commission has upgraded specialist children's mental health services at Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust from requires improvement to good.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) upgraded specialist community mental health services for children and young people at Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust from requires improvement to good. The inspection took place from June 9 to June 11, 2026, and checked whether the trust had acted on concerns found during its previous inspection. In 2021, the trust had breached three regulations covering risk assessments, waiting lists, staffing, premises and equipment, but inspectors said the service had now improved in all these areas and was no longer in breach.

Specialist community child and adolescent mental health services, known as CAMHS, assess, advise and treat children and young people with severe and complex mental health problems. The service's safe and responsive ratings rose from requires improvement to good. Effective, caring and well-led remained good. Inspectors visited teams in South Gloucestershire, North Somerset and North Bristol.

Inspectors found that staff had systems to monitor young people on waiting lists and respond when their needs or risks changed. Young people waiting for treatment could access 24-hour crisis support, and staff contacted them at regular intervals. Inspectors said this meant support could be provided sooner when a young person's mental health deteriorated.

Staff developed individual packages of care and worked with other teams to reduce hospital admissions. Young people with eating disorders could receive nasogastric tube feeding in the community, allowing them to remain at home rather than in hospital.

A clinic had also been established to provide blood tests, weight monitoring and electrocardiograms. Inspectors said this reduced the need for families to contact GPs and allowed young people to receive results on the same day.

How it is being reported

• Children’s mental health services upgraded to good after improvementsChildren’s mental health services in the region have been rated good after improvementsGazette & Herald · 15 Oct, 05:00
• Children’s mental health services upgraded to good after improvementsChildren’s mental health services in the region have been rated good after improvementsSwindon Advertiser · 15 Oct, 05:00
• Children’s mental health services upgraded to good after improvementsChildren’s mental health services in the region have been rated good after improvementsWiltshire Times · 15 Oct, 05:00
• Children’s mental health services upgraded to good after improvementsChildren’s mental health services in the region have been rated good after improvementsThis Is Wiltshire · 15 Oct, 05:00

In this story: Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust · Care Quality Commission · South Gloucestershire · North Somerset · North Bristol

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