Analysis

Lessons from mental health pilots

3 mins read Health Mental health
Adopting a mentalising approach and appointing virtual mental health leads are key benefits, say organisers.
The pilot aimed to encourage looked-after children to discuss mental wellbeing. Picture: Motortion/Adobe Stock
The pilot aimed to encourage looked-after children to discuss mental wellbeing. Picture: Motortion/Adobe Stock

The evaluation of Mental Health Assessment Pilots for looked-after children makes, on first glance, disappointing reading. The study of the much-lauded project found the pilots had low take up, little evidence of positive outcomes for children and “appear to require further refinement” if they are to be rolled out.

Yet, those behind the study say there are important practice lessons to emerge which, if widely adopted by children’s social care teams and community mental health services, could improve support for looked-after children for little extra cost.

When launched in January 2019, nearly two years later than originally planned, it was hoped the Department for Education-funded pilots would improve the way children’s mental health needs were assessed so that problems could be identified earlier and support put in place.

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