WIREDGOV

Children’s Minister Delyth Morgan and Care Services Minister Phil Hope today reinforced the clear expectation for all local areas to deliver good quality mental health services for all children, including 24 hour cover for urgent mental health problems and child-only facilities for under-16s.

The Government is calling on all local areas to support children’s emotional wellbeing and mental health, as it publishes its full response to the 20 recommendations in last-year’s independent review of Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS).

Keeping Children and Young People In Mind sets out the Government’s commitment to support local areas to deliver effective and high quality mental health services for children and young people, drawing upon existing evidence and good practice. Stopping emotional and mental health problems in childhood escalating to problems later in life will help young people achieve their full potential, and also help cut the cost to society of poor health, poverty, crime and low educational attainment.

The Government is backing this up with a major package to support local delivery including:

• £58 million allocated to support the co-location of health services incorporating mental health provision alongside schools and other places where children and young people already go;
• the roll-out of the £60 million DCSF Targeted Mental Health in Schools programme to every local authority from April 2010;
• a new programme of action to support the workforce, including the announcement by DCSF of new training support in relation to the mental health needs of children with learning disabilities and children at risk of self harming; and
• enhanced expert support for the local areas that need it most via a new National Support Team, fulfilling the commitment the Government made in its initial response to the CAMHS Review.

Children and Families Minister Delyth Morgan said:

“Good mental health and wellbeing are crucial to ensuring that all children and young people can learn, achieve and fulfil their potential. Growing up is about developing resilience to deal with life’s problems – but that doesn’t mean children don’t need support.

“Today we are calling on professionals to make sure they spot emerging issues from an early age and prevent emotional or mental health problems spiralling out of control. It’s important that all services and professionals working with children and young people, especially schools and early years settings, are aware of the signs and can act quickly to help children, and their families, to deal with their problems and get the support they need.

“There is clear evidence that emotional and conduct disorders in younger life can lead to criminal behaviour in adult life. Early intervention reduces length and severity of severe mental illness – including schizophrenia and psychosis. And treating depression in young people reduces the burden of mental health later in life.”

Care Services Minister Phil Hope said:

“It’s vital that we support children and young people to have good mental health and wellbeing. This means getting the whole spectrum in place, from preventative work through to specialist services for those with mental health problems.

“Today's document is about practical advice for all those who deliver this support. The advice will complement the work of the new National Support Team and promote the wider aim, set out in New Horizons, to tackle mental health issues in people of all ages, and help make support more accessible for everyone.”

The National Advisory Council for Children’s Mental Health and Psychological Well-being welcomed the Government’s full response to the CAMHS Review.

Dame Jo Williams, Chair, National Advisory Council said:

“Children’s mental health and emotional wellbeing is vitally important, and the work to date is driving home the message that it is everybody’s business.

“We know from the young people and professionals we talk to that there are still major challenges ahead, both nationally and locally. These need to be addressed to ensure that all children, young people and families have access to a world class services that meet their needs.”

Ann Baxter, Chair of Association of Directors of Children’s Services (ADCS) Health, Care & Additional Needs Policy Committee said:

“ADCS is pleased to support the Government's response to the CAMHS Review. It is important that the recommendations of the Review are implemented so that local partnerships can continue to improve services for young people and their families.”

Sarah Brennan, Chief Executive of YoungMinds said:

“We welcome the government’s response and its recognition that investing in children and young people’s mental health is an investment in the future, saving millions to social services, the criminal justice system, and the NHS. It also provides the children’s workforce with a much needed document bringing together all the complex policies and initiatives into a single place.”

Steve Shrubb, Director for the Mental Health Network at the NHS Confederation said:

“The NHS Confederation's mental health network welcomes the Government's response to the independent review of CAMHs. Many mental health problems start in childhood. Intervening early, providing support to families and supporting schools to promote mental health and wellbeing are key components of ensuring that we meet the emotional needs of children and invest in the future wellbeing of young people.”

Editor's Notes
This press notice relates to 'England'

• A copy of the full Government response to the CAMHS review Keeping Children and Young People In Mind will be published at: http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/everychildmatters/emotionalwellbeingandmentalhealth and http://www.dh.gov.uk/publications

• It sets out, in one place, the Government’s existing commitments for all children and young people to support their emotional wellbeing and mental health:

.  the Early Years Foundation Stage supports the personal, social and emotional development (along with other key areas of development) of children aged 0 to 5 attending registered childcare providers and maintained and independent schools;
.  by 2010, there will be at least 3,500 Sure Start Children’s Centres -one for every community - offering joined-up services for all children under 5 and their families;
.  Parents and carers are provided with the information they need to help their children lead healthy lives, with local areas setting out the services families will be able to receive in their communities;
.  every pupil will go to a school that promotes their health and wellbeing, as part of the Pupil and Parent Guarantees;
.  all maintained schools will be participating in the Healthy Schools Programme by the end of 2009;
.  personal, social, health and economic (PSHE) education will be made compulsory in schools from September 2011, subject to the passage of legislation;
.  Children’s Trust Boards must ensure clear arrangements are in place for early intervention (identifying and supporting vulnerable children) in each area through their Children and Young People’s Plan; 
.  by April 2010, young people under 18 receiving specialist mental health services will be treated in an environment which is suitable, having regard to their age; 
.  young people under 16 years old will not be placed on an adult ward when receiving specialist mental health services; and 
.  statutory guidance will require local authorities and PCTs to provide dedicated CAMHS services for looked-after children where there is an identified local need.

• The CAMHS Review was commissioned in December 2007 and was led by Chair Jo Davidson, Group Director of Children and Young People’s Services at Gloucestershire County Council. Dr Bob Jezzard, retired Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist was Vice Chair.

• The CAMHS review found that while local services had made significant progress more needed to be done to improve the consistency, accessibility and suitability of services. The review set out a clear vision of how CAMHS should change in three–five years time as a result of the recommendations. Following the CAMHS review, the Government established the independent National Advisory Council (NAC) on children’s psychological wellbeing and mental health. Ministers accepted the report – today gives the full response to how the 20 recommendations are being implemented.

• Since 2008 local authorities and PCTs have been required to report on four key aspects of service provision to meet the needs of children and young people with mental health problems through National Indicator 51 and Vital Signs indicator 12. This comprises their assessment of their provision of services for children and young people with learning disabilities; age appropriate accommodation and support for 16/17 year olds; the availability of 24 hour cover to meet urgent mental health needs and the joint commissioning of early intervention support.

• Funding for co-located projects incorporating mental health provision is through the £200 million cross GovernmentCo-location Fund. This provides funding for projects which locate services together in significant or innovative ways, responding to local needs.

Contact Details
Public Enquiries 0870 000 2288, info@dcsf.gsi.gov.uk