Confidentiality and Consent
In order to offer the most help parents and carers are usually invited to attend appointments but you will be offered time alone to discuss your thoughts and feelings.
What we discuss at each appointment is normally kept between the people attending the appointment. Sometimes professionals will seek the opinions of other CAMHS professionals. At times it is helpful to talk with other professionals outside the service, such as a teacher, but we will always get permission from you first. Your GP will be kept informed in writing of any agreed CAMHS involvement. If a CAMHS practitioner has concerns about the safety of a child or young person, they are obliged by law to involve other professionals. Whenever possible, the family will be informed before this happens.
What we discuss at each appointment is normally kept between the people attending the appointment. Sometimes professionals will seek the opinions of other CAMHS professionals. At times it is helpful to talk with other professionals outside the service, such as a teacher, but we will always get permission from you first. Your GP will be kept informed in writing of any agreed CAMHS involvement. If a CAMHS practitioner has concerns about the safety of a child or young person, they are obliged by law to involve other professionals. Whenever possible, the family will be informed before this happens.
For Children under 12
We will seek consent to share information and to provide treatment from the parent(s) or a person with legal authority to act on the child’s behalf. We will also ask the child for their own views and take these into account.
For children aged 12-15
From age 12, many young people have enough understanding of the nature of consent to be able to make their own decision. But if this is not the case, we will seek consent from the parent(s) or person with legal authority to act on behalf of the young person.
For 16+
Anyone aged 16 or older is presumed to have capacity to make their own decisions. The Adults with Incapacity (Scotland) Act 2000 provides a system for safeguarding the welfare and managing the finances and property of adults who lack capacity to make some or all of their own decisions. We will use this legislation to provide care in CAMHS when this is appropriate.
We will seek consent to share information and to provide treatment from the parent(s) or a person with legal authority to act on the child’s behalf. We will also ask the child for their own views and take these into account.
For children aged 12-15
From age 12, many young people have enough understanding of the nature of consent to be able to make their own decision. But if this is not the case, we will seek consent from the parent(s) or person with legal authority to act on behalf of the young person.
For 16+
Anyone aged 16 or older is presumed to have capacity to make their own decisions. The Adults with Incapacity (Scotland) Act 2000 provides a system for safeguarding the welfare and managing the finances and property of adults who lack capacity to make some or all of their own decisions. We will use this legislation to provide care in CAMHS when this is appropriate.