Youth counselling under threat due to changes in way services commissioned

Barbara Rayment told CYP Now that her members, who provide counselling and advice services, are under more pressure than ever to provide evidence that their services are effective.

In the past, qualitative evidence was deemed as being adequate proof of a service's value.

But now that local authorities are increasingly commissioning jointly with health partners, services that are backed up by more scientific research are being favoured.

This means techniques such as cognitive behaviour therapy are being commissioned because they have a strong evidence base and have been subject to randomised controlled trials.Also, now resources are tighter, there is greater emphasis on commissioning evidence-based services.

Rayment said: "We need to have greater clarity about what counts as evidence. Voluntary sector youth counselling services cannot necessarily fund evaluations of their work."

David Stout, primary care trust network director at the NHS Confederation, said there is pressure on commissioners to spend money wisely. He said: "People will look for evidence bases where one exists. But you can't require randomised controlled trials for everything you commission."