Inquiry launched into mental health and wellbeing of looked after children

An inquiry into the mental health and wellbeing of looked after children has been launched by the Education Select Committee.

The committee will investigate the extent and quality of dedicated mental health and wellbeing services provided for looked after children and care leavers, including training and support for carers and social workers.

It will also look into whether the Department for Education and Department of Health guidance on promoting the health and wellbeing of looked after children, published in March, is sufficient to ensure mental health and wellbeing are prioritised for children in care and care leavers, and also the extent to which the aims articulated in the guidance are being implemented at a local level.

The role of the education system will also be analysed, such as the level of coordination between relevant elements of the education system, the care system and the health system in supporting the mental health and wellbeing of looked after children and care leavers, and how this can be improved. The contribution that schools make to supporting the mental health and wellbeing of looked after children alongside services such as CAMHS will also be a factor.

Finally, the Committee will look at how young people and their carers can be more involved in designing mental health and wellbeing services for looked after children, including when making the transition to adult services when leaving care.

The Committee is seeking written submissions for this inquiry – the deadline for receipt of submissions is midday on Thursday, October 29. For more information on this, click here.