WEST MIDLANDS - EXEMPLARS OF GOOD PRACTICE.

In Europe we often use the more rigorous ICD10 criteria which are funded by  governments.

This is preferable to using DSM4 which is funded partly by the US drug companies who clearly have a vested interest in the high levels of diagnosis.

These criteria are to be replaced by DSM5 in 2013 which will if not challenged widen categories greatly.

Again from around the West Midlands:


1) One child was due to be Sectioned under the Mental Health Act due to his continuing dangerous behavioural difficulties but thanks to a number of  colleagues having meaningful conversations with the Child Psychiatrist involved about some positive family variables e.g. his good relationship with his father, this did not happen.The young person was placed with his dad following a multiprofessional meeting and within three weeks all three medications were removed and he started to re-engage with school again for the first time in a year.This is a major success story that demonstrates the power of effective positive challenge.A child who has been sectioned is severely disadvantaged all their life e.g. can never get a visa for the U.S.

2)At least twenty children in one authority have had their medications reduced to safer levels as a result of conversations by the Educational Psychologists with the respective Child Psychiatrists or Paediatricians.

3) One child who looked "ghostly white" on a home visit and who was reported by his carers to be losing weight rapidly had his medication levels reviewed and significantly reduced as a result of feedback from an educational psychologist to the psychiatrist concerned.His medication had not been reviewed for at least twelve months prior to this point and his carers had just asked for repeat prescriptions which again is against N.I.C.E. guidelines for good practice.



4)More and more headteachers are asking questions about the numbers of children in their school( see 16 Best questions Post), sometimes as a result of questions asked by Governors. Some are developing a more consistent policy as a result where if the parent wants a medication given they then have to come into school to administer it and can not reasonably expect untrained staff e.g. school secretary to do that on their behalf.

5) One LEA in the West Midlands has set up a multi professional clinic at a Short Stay School to aim to offer alternative approaches to medication.It was featured on the ITV Tonight programme on the 28th Julyn 2011. 

Can be see on one of Most Popular Posts above.

Educational Professionals as Change Agents.

Let us all do more to increase the levels of appropriate effective challenge in cases where educational professionals feel that a childs psychological wellbeing is being adversely affected.

Please notify me of any other good exemplars by leaving a comment. 

or contact me on:

traxsondave@gmail.com