Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to Transforming children and young people’s mental health provision: a green paper, published by his Department in December 2017, if his Department will consider taking steps for (a) children in care and (b) children from deprived areas when implementing actions arising from that green paper.

We know that children in care and children in deprived areas face particular difficulties which may impact their mental health. The proposals set out in the Green Paper aim to improve support for all children who need mental health support, and will in particular help those groups with higher incidences of mental health issues, including children in care and children from deprived areas. We are keen to ensure that the Green Paper proposals also align with the various pieces of work we are taking forward across Government to support the mental health and wellbeing needs of looked after children.

Through the public online consultation for the Green Paper, which is open until 2 March, we are seeking views on how looked after children can easily access the right support and whether deprivation should be a key factor in selecting the trailblazer areas. Trailblazer areas will trial the mental health support teams and waiting time standard pilots (as set out in the Green Paper) and will also test how the mental health support teams can link to the work of other professionals to enhance support for vulnerable children.

The outcome of the consultation will inform how we take forward and implement the Green Paper proposals, and how we select the trailblazer areas.