The Adolescent Intensive Management Team: An Intensive Outreach Mental Health Service for High-Risk Adolescents

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this paper was to describe the Adolescent Intensive Management (AIM) team at the Austin Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS), a unique model of intensive outreach service with high-risk and difficult-to-engage adolescents, and describe the profile of clients referred to it. Method: This study used a retrospective review of clients’ data, collected through file audit, over a 12-month period. Results: The result of the study showed that a 100% retention rate of adolescents with complex social, emotional and mental health needs is possible in a flexible and multi-system approach to service provision. Conclusion: Clients referred to the CAMHS’ AIM team displayed a pattern of multiple risk factors and comorbidities. Low caseload of 8–10 clients per clinician allowed flexibility and a level of intensity to make any necessary changes in service provision to better suit the client's needs. The majority of clients showed improvement in functioning following intervention by the team.