Yesterday during Education Questions in Parliament, Telford's MP, Lucy Allan asked the Children's Minister whether he agreed that the Government needs to bring forward measures so that looked-after children are given priority access to mental health services.
This follows the Education Committee's and Health and Social Care Committee's joint report on Transforming children and young people’s mental health provision inquiry.
The inquiry was launched following the publication of the Government’s green paper on Transforming Children and Young People’s Mental Health Provision. Both Committee's have scrutinised the proposed scope and implementation of the green paper, and have followed up on their previous recommendations.
The Government will formally respond to the Committee's report in due course.
Responding to Ms Allan's question, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Nadhim Zahawi MP said:
"That is a really important question. We are piloting new approaches to mental health assessment for children in care. The pilots seek to address concerns about the current mental health assessment for children and young people entering care, and to build on the recommendations of the expert working group on mental health."