Child and adolescent psychiatry and the Child and Adolescent Health in the Jönköping Region lacked a systematic assessment instrument for triaging the level of care for children and adolescents with mental illness.

The aim of the improvement work was to give children with mental illness access to care and treatment, at the right time and the right level of care by introducing a systematic assessment instrument, and one common unit. The purpose of the study was to clarify if the needs young people and parents expressed was handle in the new unit.

The improvement work was based on Nolan’s improvement model. Interviews with patients were conducted prior to the improvement work to obtain customer views. Data for the study was collected through focus group interviews and analyzed with qualitative content analysis.

A new unit launched which providing telephone counseling and assessments regarding care level by using validated assessment instruments. Families appreciate the new way of working and felt listened to. The study showed that the new unit increased collaboration between the first lines of care and specialist care and increased understanding and knowledge of activities.

The introduction of a structured and systematic assessment instrument for triaging resulted in more equal and patient safe assessment, which increased quality and next step for the family.