NSW Child and Youth Mental Health Services (CYMHS) Capability Framework

​​​​​​​​​​Summary

The Framework outlines the knowledge, skills, behaviours and values needed to work with children and young people within mental health services, assists with local service provision, and supports a co-ordinated approach to professional development and service improvement.

​The Framework replaces and builds on the NSW CAMHS Competency Framework and contains a number of key updates, including:

• An expanded scope - to reflect the growing importance of Youth Mental Health Services (YMHS), the Framework has been expanded to include the YMH workforce
• Expanded professional groups – in accordance with the growth of the mental health workforce since 2011, the Framework has been expanded to include mental health peer workers, Aboriginal identified roles within mental health roles, Aboriginal mental health clinicians, support workers and administrative workers.
• Respectful language – language used within the Framework has been updated to better reflect a trauma informed and strengths-based approach.​
  
• New ways of working – the Framework has been updated to include the use of virtual modalities, such as telehealth. It also addresses modern-day pressures that children and young people can face, such as online access to virtual support, and managing the impacts of social media.​