Family Ambassador Service helps overwhelmed mum get her voice heard
For a parent or carer navigating the complex landscape of their child's mental health journey, the feeling of being unheard can be devastating.
This was the experience of a mum, whose child faced numerous hospital stays, diagnoses, and treatments - including a CAMHS admission far from home which made visits incredibly difficult. With the added responsibility of caring for two other children and her own mother, she understandably felt overwhelmed and isolated.
Fortunately, Mum was able to draw on the support of the East Midlands Family Ambassador service, a team of non-clinical professionals with lived experience, who support parents and carers navigate their CAMHS journey together with their young person. She has spoken openly about her experiences, including how Family Ambassadors supported her - having an impact which meant her voice could be heard.
Issues with communication
Mum's struggles were compounded by communication breakdowns with professionals within the CAMHS ward. Despite raising concerns about a lack of communication, promised communication plans never materialised, leaving her constantly chasing after information. Mum recounted an incident where her daughter's medication was not given, and rather than being informed of this by the ward staff, her daughter made her aware of this.
Perhaps the most distressing issue for Mum, was the lack of access to any leave for her daughter since her admission which had been over 200 days. Despite their requests, staff insisted on prior engagement with the on-site school before considering leave, even though they both felt that time spent away from the ward would be hugely beneficial. An access plan detailing the criteria for leave remained unproduced after four months of being requested.
Family Ambassador support - making a big difference
Following an initial meeting with Mum, the allocated Family Ambassador immediately engaged with the Ward Manager, raising Mum's concerns about leave and communication. The response was swift and positive, as the Ward Manager quickly agreed to meet with Mum to discuss her concerns. Remarkably, the very next day after the Family Ambassador's intervention, the young person was granted grounds leave, something that had been denied for over 200 days. This marked a significant turning point for her, as following this, she was able to enjoy regular grounds leave with staff and her family.
The impact of the Family Ambassador's intervention was undeniable. Mum expressed immense gratitude, stating that her voice is now heard. The Family Ambassador continued to provide support, including attending her daughters Care Programme Approach (CPA) meetings, to help Mum express her views amidst a room of professionals. A strong working relationship developed between the Ward Manager and the Family Ambassador team, with the manager emphasising the importance of families feeling heard and supported.
Continued support
The Family Ambassador's support didn't end with the young person's stay at this unit. They continued to provide support during her transition to another inpatient service provider in a different location. Mums feedback speaks volumes about the impact of the Family Ambassador service, it has helped greatly with communication with the ward and getting my voice heard, and the Family Ambassador has been super helpful and caring.
Mum's advice to other families who are just starting their own journey with CAMHS is to, remember that you know your child and their needs the best . She would like to tell all parents and carers not to allow anybody to undermine your importance in your child's mental health journey .
In terms of supporting siblings who have a brother or sister in hospital, Mum advises to include them in what is happening, and to try and make some time and space for yourself and them. When bringing siblings into the hospital setting, I think family rooms that include the ability to play games, and music can be really beneficial for them.
Mum states that she is most proud of how far her daughter has come and how hard she has worked to get to this point. Even in dark days, my daughter has managed to find some light and is finally stable and discharged. I am proud of myself for remaining optimistic about finding the right combination of medicines to help my child and my ability to act as her advocate when she needed me the most.
For more information about the East Midlands Family Ambassador Service visit the website.