Daily roundup 8 January: Mental health, madrassas and Kids Company psychologist

The children's commissioner for England will be investigating the "alarming" state of children's mental health services. The Times reports that Anne Longfield will look at waiting times, rising thresholds for treatment, and distances children have to travel to get help, and will publish a report in May at the latest.


An organisation that represents 400 mosques has rejected proposals by government to require madrassas in England to be registered and inspected. The BBC reports that the plans, which would require Muslim supplementary schools to comply with plans for tighter scrutiny over out-of-school education settings, encroaches on religious freedom, according to the Northern Council of Mosques.


A psychologist from now-defunct charity Kids Company could be struck off after admitting to taking illegal drug MDMA while with some vulnerable young people she worked with. ITV News reports Helen Winter admitted taking the drug and being under the influence while with two clients in January 2014.  


A counselling service aimed at helping vulnerable 11- to 26-year-olds who are at risk of waiting months on an NHS waiting list is to launch in Tunbridge Wells. The Kent and Sussex Courier reports that Talk2Us, which has been run in-house by charity West Kent YMCA, has decided to expand after receiving scores of enquiries.  

 
Plymouth City Council has been working with young people to encourage them to become youth workers. The Plymouth Herald reports that the council's project has helped to reduce antisocial behaviour, according to one youth worker.