In your article, Beverley Tydeman states that if the Improving Access to Mental Health (IAPT) model is extended to children and young people, it could result in children being stuck in a "revolving door", where they feel "briefly better but then after a while need to be re-referred".
This may happen in some cases; Nice guidance shows that gains from psychological therapies are not always maintained over the longer-term. However, no mental health therapy is permanently effective in 100 per cent of cases. As Nice guidance also recognises, evidence shows sustained periods of psychological therapy to be among the most effective treatments available, particularly in children with depression.
There will be logistical concerns about a nationwide expansion of the current IAPT programme to include more children and young people, and financial concerns given that the extra £400m provided for the programme is not ringfenced. However, early intervention is crucial to prevent the worsening of mental health problems in children and young people and, integrated with existing support services for children and young people, IAPT should play a vital role.
Simon Lawton-Smith, head of policy, The Mental Health Foundation
DfE schools plans confusion
Nick Hudson is not alone in his alarm and confusion at the inconsistent instructions coming from the Department for Education (DfE) on school improvement plans.
We understood by the government's schools white paper and meetings with officials and ministers that responsibility for school improvement switched from local authorities and placed accountability upon schools and centrally recruited school improvement advisers.
In accordance with the white paper, we scaled down our schools improvement team. We were astonished to receive a letter from the Secretary of State in March requesting our plans as to how we were going to ensure improvement in our vulnerable schools.
Has it dawned belatedly upon the ministerial team that perhaps the DfE does not have the capacity to bring about improvement by central directive and that not all schools are ready for the new, so-called freedoms?
Councillor Lorna Reith, cabinet member for children and young people, Haringey Council
It is vital to listen to children
Why are so many services still failing to listen to children, even when they are trying to protect them? Findings from Ofsted's report into serious case reviews has yet again warned that some professionals focus too much on the views of parents, not of the child.
Listening to children should be at the heart of our child protection systems. NCB has begun a project to test ways of listening to children in the child protection system.
Sir Paul Ennals, chief executive, National Children's Bureau
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