Inquiry launched into mental health of looked-after children

MPs will scrutinise the current provision of mental health services for looked-after children, and the level of training and support available for social workers

MPs have launched an inquiry into the mental health and well-being of looked-after children.

The Education Committee will analyse the extent and quality of dedicated mental health and well-being services for looked-after children and care leavers, as well as the training and support on offer for social workers and carers.

The inquiry will also cover how children in care and their carers can be more involved in the design of mental health and well-being services.

The committee aims to build on a recent report by the Health Committee on children and adolescents’ mental health services.

Whether government guidance on promoting the health and well-being of looked-after children, published in March, is sufficient will also be scrutinised, as will how this guidance is being used in practice.

The deadline to submit written evidence is midday on Thursday 29 October.

More from Community Care

One Response to Inquiry launched into mental health of looked-after children

  1. Planet Autism September 23, 2015 at 5:05 pm #

    They should include analysis of whether:

    the mental health difficulties are as a result of abuse or neglect in care;
    the mental health difficulties are as a direct result of being wrongfully removed from birth family;
    the mental health difficulties went unsupported when the birth family needed help and lack of support resulted in failure to cope and child being removed.