What is the Quality Network for Inpatient CAMHS?

QNIC was developed from the National Inpatient Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Study (NICAPS) in 2001. The network aims to demonstrate and improve the quality of inpatient child and adolescent psychiatric in-patient care through a system of review against the QNIC service standards. This process follows a clinical audit cycle with self-review and peer-review.

Given their short supply and high cost, it is essential that child and adolescent psychiatric inpatient units demonstrate their quality and appropriateness. However, because of their geographic spread, unit staff can feel isolated and unable to communicate with other CAMHS professionals. Therefore, quality improvement can occur in isolation. QNIC aims to resolve this by providing a single channel for the effective dissemination of important information from central sources such as national and professional bodies and coordinating information sharing between units, e.g. regarding best practice. QNIC is a supportive network with the emphasis on facilitating change.

The network was originally funded for 3 years by The Health Foundation (previously PPP Medical Healthcare Trust). It is now funded by the subscriptions of members.

Find out more about joining the network, participating in accreditation or the benefits of membership.