Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services

Lord Roberts of Llandudno Excerpts

Wednesday 24th October 2018 Lords Chamber

[Lord O’Shaughnessy]

The noble Baroness makes a very important point. There are 70 new or enhanced community eating disorder services. The intention is that they should serve over 3,300 children and young people every year.

[Lord Roberts of Llandudno (LD)]

My Lords, what consideration is being given to refugee children who come with tremendous trauma from the camps in Dunkirk and Calais? Is any consideration given to them and the threat that when they reach the age of 18, their status changes and they can face deportation? Can we not do something to relieve that anxiety?

[Lord O’Shaughnessy]

As I hope the noble Lord will know, refugee children have as much right to access these services as other children. I should also point out that a new mental health assessment trial is being funded by the Department for Education specifically to design mental health assessments for looked-after children of all kinds, including refugee children.