As part of its developing academic strategy and ongoing commitment to raise awareness of multi-disciplinary advancements within child and adolescent mental health, the Association had, in 2004, considered the possible implementation of short CBT training courses. This represented a new initiative for the Association and, in order to provide maximum benefit, it was agreed to initially evaluate what other professional organizations offered in terms of CBT training courses with a view to exchanging ideas and, where appropriate, pooling resources.

A sequence of meetings between the Association, BABCP, BPS and Institute of Psychiatry highlighted the lack of definitive information on trainers, qualifications, availability and location, despite a growing interest in the clinical application of Cognitive Behaviour Therapy with children and young people.  The National Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service mapping exercise (DoH 2002) highlight that of the 5348 clinicians who supplied  details of their clinical approaches, 3091 (58%) reported using CBT.  This trend reflects the accumulating evidence from randomised controlled studies that CBT is effective for a range of childhood problems.

Whilst there is considerable support and enthusiasm from practitioners there is a lack of specific training and on-going supervision in the use of child focused CBT. Few post-graduate training programmes offer dedicated courses for working with children and there are currently only 11 accredited child supervisors on the listed on the BABCP website.

In response to this significant difference between training, supervision and the practice of child focused CBT, a National Survey was launched in the latter part of 2005 to evaluate the use of child focused CBT and identify level, training and supervision needs of the clinicians using this approach 

The Survey was undertaken jointly by:

• the Association for Child and Adolescent Mental Health (ACAMH) 
• the British Association of Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy (BABCP) Children, Adolescents and Families Special Interest Branch 
• the Britishh  Psychological Society, Division of Clinical Psychology Faculty for Children and Young People (BPS)
• the Royal College of Psychiatry, Child and Adolescent FAculty
• the Nursing Consultant Network

For further information on the survey or the results, please contact Ingrid King at ACAMH's Head Office - ingrid.king@acamh.org.uk