One-in-four Camhs posts in Cork are currently vacant

One-in-four posts in the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) in Cork are currently vacant, with over 1,000 children waiting to be seen in the south west, new HSE data has shown.

At present there are 53 CAMHS Cork posts in the recruitment process, from across a range of teams, both regional and service-based, and there are just over 160 whole time equivalent (WTE) staff working in the service.

These 53 posts represent a mix of both new and replacement jobs, a HSE spokesperson told The Echo, adding that data around when these posts became vacant is currently unavailable.

The total number of staff currently assigned to Cork CAMHS, across both permanent and temporary posts across multidisciplinary teams, including psychiatry, psychology, nursing, social work, occupational therapy, and administrative support, as of the end of September, is 162.66.

The HSE spokesperson said that this figure may fluctuate slightly due to a range of factors, including periods of statutory or parental leave, maternity leave, or extended sick leave.

They added that CAMHS services “are continuously evolving to meet the growing and changing needs of young people and families in our communities. As services expand — both in reach and in the range of support we offer — staffing levels naturally fluctuate to ensure we can provide the highest quality care.

“We remain committed to recruiting, training, and supporting skilled professionals so that our CAMHS teams can continue to deliver timely and effective mental health support.” 

As of the end of June, there were 1,016 children waiting to be seen by CAMHS in the south west, made up of Cork and Kerry, considerably above the national average of 737 per health region, according to PQ data provided to Sinn Féin TD Ruairí Ó Murchú.

The figure includes 332 waiting more than a year, 111 waiting 39 to 52 weeks, 171 waiting 26 to 29, 178 waiting 12 to 26 and 224 waiting less than 12 weeks.

A HSE spokesperson said: “The recruitment embargo in 2024, coupled with ongoing recruitment challenges not only faced by CAHMS but across the health sector as a whole, saw the number of staff fall in 2024.

“Investment in child and youth mental health services continues to be a priority for the HSE. The HSE continues in its efforts to recruit into replacement posts and to new posts approved under the National Service Plans 2024 and 2025. 

"A dedicated recruitment promotion campaign has been developed to further support recruitment and to attract staff to work in these services.”