Including Children & Families in the Care Plan: a Completed Quality Improvement Project

Abstract

Introduction The 2009 Quality Network for Inpatient CAMHS (QNIC) Service Standards states that every patient should have a multidisciplinary team (MDT) care plan, which should be developed in collaboration with, and accessible to the child and the parents/carers. Objectives To complete an initial audit, followed by an education session and introduction of a ‘child-friendly' care plan template into the admission pack, and finally re-audit. Aims To increase the involvement of children and their parents/carers in the care plan. Methods This project was carried out between October 2013 and January 2014. Audit involved review of paper and electronic (JADE) case notes for all new and current admissions, and parents and young people were contacted in person or via telephone. Care plans were assessed for availability (i.e. presence in children's personal trays), and existence of a ‘child-friendly' version. The intervention consisted of an education session, and introduction of a ‘child-friendly' care plan template into the admission pack. Results Conclusions An education session and introduction of a template for completion of ‘child-friendly' care plans resulted in an increase in children's and parents'/carers' awareness of, access to, and involvement in their care plans. Further work might assess whether service users are equally involved in discharge planning.