School refusing to share CAMHS referral

[CAMHShelp]

Name changed as quite outing
School have made a referral to CAMHS for DC2. I have asked for a copy of this referral and school are refusing saying it’s confidential, from one professional to another, and need it to remain confidential in order to be completely honest but “reassure me that there is nothing controversial on there”.
My understanding is that unless it’s a safeguarding issue then they cannot withhold such information. I also do not believe it’s in DC best interests for school not to be transparent with parents when they suspect SEN etc.
What are other peoples experiences/views and where do I go from here? Do I risk further damaging my relationship with school and demand to see it (YANBU) or do I accept this lack of transparency is the protocol and not make a fuss? (YABU)

They should be sharing with you. I think you could do a Subject Access Request if you really wanted to, but it might be better to ask them to share the outline of their concerns.

You absolutely have the right to see this and telling otherwise is downright unforgivable and unnecesary. I would request it again in writing and if not provided, proceed with a SAR.
Infuriating how schools make already challenging times even more so by creating ridiculous obstacles.

My guess is they've exaggerated your child's needs/their inability to cope in order for your child to be seen by CAMHs more quickly. Here there is a 3-4 year waiting list.

It's not usual for parents to see a copy of the referral. I'm assuming you know the reason for the referral.

Is it just the child who can request information not be shared with a parent or can one parent request it not be shared with the other parent?

My child’s school completed the form with my input.. it was a joint effort and certainly not confidential “from one professional to another“.
What are they not wanting you to see I wonder?

Another vote for they exaggerated. The wait for CAMHs is so long that I have heard of this happening to get children seen quicker.

childlawadvice.org.uk/information-pages/access-to-information/

Tell them to take a step back and reconsider their position. They are using some advice that is 'ahead of the law' I suspect!

Every referral school have done for my DC that has involved outside agencies - CAMHS, SALT, OT, EdPsych, etc - has required my signature before it can be sent, they should definitely be sharing a copy of the referral with you and you wouldn't be out of line to kick up a stink about it.

Do you know what's at the base of their concerns?

Ask the school for their policy on sharing information and on safeguarding. If you get no joy go to CAMHS and ask for their policies or make a request to see the case record, it might take a few days and some info may be omitted.

I really hope it's got nothing to do with the current gender woo, some schools are keeping information from parents if their child says they are a different sex to what they were born, the whole thing is a minefield.

Good luck!

You have to consent to it and have every right to see it.
I had to ask to see my sons, and was allowed but the SENco warned me it wasn’t easy reading and they’d exaggerated things.

My understanding is that unless it’s a safeguarding issue then they cannot withhold such information.

If this is the case then it may be a safeguarding issue?

CAMHS aren’t a safeguarding service - so as a parent you need to be consenting to the information being shared.

Same if the school are referring to social services where there is a safeguarding issue (e.g. child in need or services, but they are not likely to be significantly harmed without intervention).

Schools hide behind the ‘we don’t want to ruin the relationship with the family, so we haven’t told them we are referring’ bullshit all the time - which they shouldn’t be doing,
Schools need to be open, up front and honest with parents! Makes much more long-standing trusting relationships.

If not, ask CAMHS to see if - when / if you get contact. They might not give you a copy - but may verbalise the referral with you instead.

Sorry, should have said ‘when there isn’t an immediate safeguarding issue’

How old is DC?

How old is your son? Could he have disclosed things he doesn't want to be shared with you?

I wouldn’t worry CAMHS are totally overwhelmed with waiting times towards years now not months. If you are worried about your dc I would have a chat with a child psychiatrist privately and not waste you time or stress on the CAMHS route.

“Nothing controversial”?! As if that’ll help.

No experience but glad you’ve had helpful replies and it sounds like they’re wrong and you should keep pushing.

It’s possible they’ve put something about you or your relationship with your child on there. They may feel that you/your relationship with your child is having an impact on their presentation/problems. That would explain why they don’t want you to see it.

If your child is 12+ then they need to consent to the SAR

Depends on how old your ds is. If he is over 12 and has capacity to choose he may not want the info shared.

If he is younger and you have PR then I think they should share the referral.

It isn't usual to keep referrals secret though!

My child's SENCO shared their CAMHS referral with me and I was really glad they did as it was full of mistakes. They answered 'no' to 'has the child had any E Psych assessments?' - he's had 2 in the last 3 years! They'd written it as if he was just badly behaved rather than struggling with concentrating/processing.

I'd ask to see it again, if there's nothing to worry about on there why on earth wouldn't they share with the parent? And why vcan't they be 'completely honest' with you about what they think aboput your child? What would they shy away from telling you what their opinion? 'One professional to another' is very condescending.

sorry typos and terrible grammer - didn't want to burn the fishfingers!

PS with the 'first version' CAMHS turned down the referral, with the corrected version they accepted and put my child on the waiting list. It's worth pursuing.

It depends on the age of the child. At secondary age the information in a CAMHS referral is the data of the child and cannot be disclosed to the parent without the child’s consent. There are lots of reasons why the child may not want their parent to see everything in the referral. In many cases children have disclosed things about their relationship with their parent(s) that they wouldn’t necessarily want that parent to read. Not necessarily a safeguarding concern, but just about general difficulties at home. Children are allowed privacy from their parents.