Description

In this episode of Mind the Kids, hosts Dr Jane Gilmour, honorary consultant clinical psychologist and Child Development Programme Director at UCL, and Professor Umar Toseeb, Professor of Psychology at the University of York, explore what happens when children and young people with severe or complex mental health difficulties are admitted to hospital. Drawing on a powerful real-world case that sparked Umar’s interest, they ask: when is inpatient care really needed, what does a good ward environment look like, and how does admission affect young people and their families over time? Jane and Umar are joined by Dr Dawn Cutler, Principal Clinical Psychologist, and Guy Larrington, Principal Family Therapist at Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, who discuss: Which kinds of difficulties typically lead to admission (including mood disorders, suicidality, eating disorders, and functional symptoms) How clinicians weigh up risk, severity, and functioning when considering admission What day-to-day life on a child and adolescent inpatient ward looks like, including education, structure, and relationships with staff The role of nursing, family involvement, and “shared care” in creating a therapeutic environment How goal-based outcomes can capture what matters most to young people and their families The episode also touches on neurodiversity in inpatient settings, systemic inequalities in who is detained, and the transdiagnostic skills and therapeutic relationships that can support recovery across diagnoses. This is a practical, reflective conversation for clinicians, researchers, and anyone wanting to better understand inpatient child and adolescent mental health care.

Learning Objectives

1. Explore why inpatient care is necessary for sever mental health issues and the crucial role nursing teams play in patient care.

2. Consider the breadth of conditions in inpatient settings and why neurodivergent children may be overrepresented in inpatient care.

3. Examine how goal-based outcomes help in understanding patient needs and how inpatient work allows for in-depth understanding of children's experiences.

4. Understand that therapeutic relationships are vital for recovery and that systematic inequalities affect access to inpatient care.