NSPCC (February 2016)

NSPCC It’s Time

As the mother of four daughters I believe that no child should ever be abused or neglected – we want to prevent these terrible crimes from happening and make sure every child gets the support they need. I really welcome a more open society that allows youngsters to come forward and identify abuse or neglect.

The Government is committed to setting out its vision in the report, Future in Mind, to transform the future of mental health services for children and young people. Local areas have produced Local Transformation Plans to improve the way these services are commissioned and delivered. This transformation is being supported by £1.25 billion of additional government investment. I appreciate that this is only the start of the journey but, it is expected by 2020, that this will help an extra 70,000 children and young people every year.

The Government is also introducing a new waiting time standard for the treatment of young people with eating disorders as well as an extra £150 million of investment, to ensure that young people get the support they need, when they need it.

The Education Secretary, Nicky Morgan recently announced a new mental health pilot scheme, working in hundreds of schools to make sure children and young people have better access to local specialist mental health provision and support that is consistent across services.

I am pleased that the Government has also set up the first ever cross-Government Ministerial Child Protection Taskforce to overhaul the way police, schools, social services and others work together in tackling abuse. The taskforce’s work will build on the Government’s wide-ranging reforms to create a care system that puts children’s needs first.

February 2016