Thursday 12 February 2026
The training, delivered by Investing in Children, was designed to give them the skills, knowledge and confidence to be involved in future recruitment and improve services for other children and young people.
It was offered to young people working in project groups with Investing in Children and was extended to those involved in Durham Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) at our trust.
Involving young people in recruitment
The young people’s involvement and insights will make sure candidates can better understand and support the needs of young people, services are more effective and experience of care is improved.
Chris Affleck, project manager at Investing in Children, said: “We’re regularly contacted by organisations and services to identify children and young people who can attend interview panels as part of the recruitment process for staff.
To make sure young people feel equipped to support, we’ve developed training that enables them to understand all elements of the recruitment process and prepare them for taking part interviews.
“It’s important for young people to be involved in recruitment. They’re the ones accessing the services and can be a great judge of character. They can make sure candidates not only have the relevant qualification and experience, but are the right people to work with children, young people and their families.
“This training will also empower young people to develop their own questions and make sure their voice and opinion is truly acknowledged when selecting the successful candidate for the job.”
Co-delivered training
The training was co-delivered by Anem Sharif, an involvement member at our trust. She said: “I had a great time delivering the interview training to other young people. It was rewarding to share my views and insights from my own lived experience. I enjoyed making the sessions interactive and supportive, and working alongside Investing in Children.
I learned a lot about myself including improving my communication, building confidence, and connecting with different people. It truly felt like we were all learning and growing together.”
Meaningful involvement
To make sure children and young people are meaningfully involved in recruitment, Chris recommends: “Take the needs and experiences of young people into account when involving them in recruitment to make sure it’s not tokenistic. For example, many young people are in education, employment or training so flexibility around interview timings is key. Also, information should be presented in an accessible way that young people understand.”
We work closely with Investing in Children and many of our CAMHS sites have achieved the Investing in Children Membership Award™. This prestigious award acknowledges involvement with young people that leads to change in services.
Looking for support?
Our Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) webpages have information about children and young people’s mental health.
Parents’ Guide to CAMHS Guide to CAMHS for young people
