Daily roundup 28 March: Mental health, teacher jailed, and inpatient unit

It is still far too difficult for young people with mental health problems to get the help they need, a report by YoungMinds has warned. A study by the charity found that only nine per cent of young people and six per cent of parents reported that they had found it easy to get the support they needed. This compares with 66 per cent of young people and 84 per cent of parents reporting they had found it difficult.


A "dangerous liar" who trained an "army of children" for terrorist attacks in London has been jailed for life with a minimum term of 25 years. The BBC reports that Umar Ahmed Haque, 25, planned to use guns and a car bomb to hit 30 targets including Big Ben in London. The religious teacher showed Islamic State propaganda to 16 children at the Ripple Road mosque in Barking, London, the Old Bailey heard. Mr Justice Haddon-Cave said he was a "very real" threat.


A new inpatient unit for adolescents with mental health difficulties will be built in North West London at the Centre for Mental Health in South Kensington, next to Chelsea and Westminster Hospital. Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust said funding of £2.1m will be spent on 12 beds for 13- to 18-year-olds who are experiencing severe mental health difficulties and need to be placed in a safe environment. An additional £2.1m has been allocated for five additional beds at Kingswood Hospital in Brent, for young people with learning difficulties and autistic spectrum disorders experiencing mental health difficulties.


The Great Ormond Street Hospital Children's Charity has said it will keep £530,000 in donations from the organiser of the scandal-hit President's Club Charitable Trust. The BBC reports that the London hospital's fundraising arm said it had reversed a decision to return the money collected from the charity following outcry at the men-only event, at which hostesses were allegedly groped.


The politician responsible for children's services at Wakefield Council has been removed from post, days after Ofsted rated provision at the local authority as "inadequate". The Wakefield Express reports that Olivia Rowley, who has held the position since May 2010, will be replaced by Margaret Isherwood with immediate effect.


The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has published a new guideline aimed at improving community care services for children, young people and adults with a learning disability. The guideline urges council and health bodies to make sure that people with learning disabilities, who have behaviour that challenges, have the right support close to home.


Social work leaders in York are about to start offering "golden hellos" and "golden handcuffs" to attract staff to key child protection and safeguarding teams that work with children at high risk. The York Press reports that the council has given the go-ahead for a recruitment scheme - which gives £2,500 to new and existing staff - in the hope of saving tens of thousands of pounds on short-term agency staff.