The Quality Network for Inpatient CAMHS (QNIC) is a vital initiative led by the Royal College of Psychiatrists, aiming to improve standards of care in child and adolescent mental health services across the UK.
Dr Van Niekerk’s appointment reflects his long-standing commitment to service quality, clinical excellence, and advocacy for the voices of young people and their families.
Speaking about his appointment, Dr Van Niekerk said: “I feel very privileged to have been elected to the role of Chair of the QNIC Advisory Group at the Royal College of Psychiatrists. I have been involved in QNIC reviews since 2011 and was appointed to the Advisory Group in October 2023 as a member.
“We recently held our Annual QNIC Forum on 20 June 2025, which focused on ‘Learning Disability and Autism in Inpatient CAMHS – Why it Matters’. It was a powerful day attended by over 100 delegates, bringing together Experts by Experience and clinicians to showcase how we can, and must, deliver the best care, support and treatment to the young people and families we serve.”
Over the next three years, Dr Van Niekerk will lead the Advisory Group with a focus on:
- Championing psychologically safe, developmentally informed care across all QNIC activities;
- Ensuring the Advisory Group represents the diversity and breadth of inpatient services across the UK;
- Expanding engagement and visibility of QNIC across the CAMHS sector; and
- Strengthening partnerships with key stakeholders, including NHS England, Local Partnership Collaboratives (LPCs), and the Royal College of Psychiatrists.
Cygnet Health Care extends its congratulations to Dr Van Niekerk on this appointment. His leadership and expertise will be instrumental in shaping the future of inpatient child and adolescent mental health services nationwide.