Initially, CAMHS were a bit crappy - kept refusing J's urgent referral from the paed due to him not being 5 yet, then saw us and fobbed us off onto a mental health nurse for assessment. Eventually saw the psychiatrist who dx'd ADHD (but missed the autism ) and they then wanted to discharge him because I didn't want him on medication and said they'd discharge him in 6 months if there were no further issues.
There were loads of issues though - it was just that they were only offering meds to deal with them, which I didn't want.
Then, a year later, things were so bad at home and school that we went back and saw a new consultant psychiatrist to see about meds, who spotted the autism straightaway and started the diagnosis process off.
This psych has been amazing. She's come to school meetings, written letters and reports to convince DLA and Blue Badge people to actually do their jobs and give J what he needs, arranged therapy for J and also sees me on my own to help me think of ways to manage J's often very difficult behaviour. She's one of the only people who gives me any confidence in my parenting, while still giving me ideas to improve it, and I would genuinely be lost without the support she's given us over the last 2 years, when everyone else seemed to have an ulterior motive or no time for us.
So...I like CAMHS now, but I think we have just been lucky. I know nothing about Southampton at all and do know that everywhere is different and offers different services. Do they have a website?
Sometimes, like in our case, you'll meet someone who will go the extra mile for your child, and I hope you find someone at your CAMHS who will do that for you.