Ask the Expert: Conflicting mental health assessments
Peter Lewis
Tuesday, October 1, 2013
An essential rule for writing editorials in newspapers and magazines is to avoid use of the first person.
We have really good child and adolescent mental health services - but there is one case where three psychiatrists have given us three different assessments on the same young person. One says the young person is at risk of "self-inflicted fatal injury". What can we do?
This sounds very risky. The most important thing is to keep this young person safe. It is tempting to think about wardship proceedings. That might sound dramatic, but put before the High Court family division, it has the virtue of a judge requiring people to turn up and give evidence. From the young person's point of view, it could offer the greatest protection and locate decision making with a wise and learned judge.
The courts are able ultimately to make difficult decisions to protect children when we might struggle.
Don't hesitate to use them. Our experience of the courts is often a testing one; for the child, it makes all the difference by deciding "without fear or favour".
Peter Lewis is a freelance providing interim local authority children's services leadership, and a former DCS in Haringey.
Email questions, marked "Experts", to cypnow@markallengroup.com
