Detailed contribution information
| Contribution title | The use of body maps at Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) Inpatient units |
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| Contribution code | D3.110 |
| Authors | |
| Form of presentation | Poster |
| Topic |
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| Abstract |
Background Body mapping is a physical examination involving the annotation of visible signs of harm and their anatomical location on a line drawing of a human body. Body maps are routinely used in safeguarding processes for children. They are also used in inpatient Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) settings; however, there is limited guidance for their use. Knowing both when and how to complete body maps in CAMHS inpatient settings is of extreme importance for the child’s care and the medicolegal protection of healthcare professionals. Methods To identify best practice, we searched national, regional, and local guidelines regarding the completion of body maps in the paediatric population. This informed the development of a proforma tool to guide body mapping processes in CAMHS inpatient units. Results and conclusions In 2020, the Royal College of Paediatricians published the Good practice service delivery standards for the management of children referred for child protection medical assessments guideline, which lay out standards to which formal child protection examinations should adhere. Standards for best practice relevant to CAMHS settings were identified, i.e. clinicians’ competency and supervision, assessing child’s competency/capacity for consent and gathering child’s and parental consent, appropriate support for the child and family (eg. use of a chaperone), clinical documentation, and feedback of outcome to child and family. We also identified clinical indications in CAMHS inpatient units and considered the need of restrictive interventions. The proforma tool can be of use in CAMHS inpatient units to align clinical practice with best practice standards. |