Thousands of Vulnerable UK Children To Get Mental Health Support Under New £9.4 Million Plan
Thousands of children and young people receiving social care support in Greater Manchester are set to benefit from earlier access to mental health services under a new £9.4 million government pilot.
The Care Together programme aims to help vulnerable children and their families access specialist support more quickly by bringing mental health professionals into existing children's social care teams, reducing the need to navigate separate services.
The initiative will cover up to 7,000 children and young people, alongside their parents, carers and guardians. It will operate across Stockport, Tameside and Rochdale, with the government funding the programme for three years.
The pilot is scheduled to launch in early 2027 and run until 2029. Its effectiveness will be evaluated to determine whether the approach could be expanded to other parts of England.
Why Vulnerable Children Need Earlier Mental Health Support
Children who receive social care support may have experienced trauma, instability or other forms of adversity that affect their emotional wellbeing. For some families, accessing appropriate mental health care can also mean dealing with multiple services and professionals.
The government says the model will help mental health and social care teams coordinate support around each child's needs.
The programme will draw on existing NHS mental health services rather than relying solely on families to navigate separate systems. Support could include family therapy and help for parents and primary caregivers.
Dame Diana Johnson, Minister of State for Public Health and Patient Safety, said fragmented services had left young people in care, care leavers and their families uncertain about where to seek help.
'For too long, fragmented mental health services have left young people in care, care leavers, parents, carers, and guardians not knowing where to turn for support,' she said.
Johnson added that the pilot would help more children access specialist mental health care tailored to their circumstances, more quickly and before they reached crisis point.
How the £9.4 Million Care Together Programme Will Work
NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care Board will run the pilot in partnership with the three local authorities.
Under the model, mental health professionals from existing NHS services will be embedded within children's social care settings. This is designed to make it easier for professionals to coordinate support and respond to children's needs earlier.
The programme will also support families and caregivers, recognising that a child's wellbeing can be influenced by their wider home environment and relationships.
Children's Minister Josh MacAlister said young people supported by social care often face significant mental health challenges linked to difficult experiences.
'Every child deserves people in their corner, and we know that children supported by social care often face severe mental health challenges because of the trauma and adversity they have faced,' he said.
MacAlister added that the pilot forms part of wider efforts to improve support for vulnerable children, including expanding the Staying Close programme for care leavers and investing £2.4 billion in early intervention and children's social care reform.
Could the Pilot Be Expanded Across England?
Care Together follows Professor Peter Fonagy's independent review of mental health conditions, ADHD and autism, which recommended better-integrated support.
The government hopes the pilot will help establish whether closer collaboration between mental health and social care professionals can improve access to treatment and outcomes for children and families.
However, the programme is not yet a nationwide service. Its initial reach is limited to three Greater Manchester local authority areas, and any wider rollout will depend partly on the evaluation of the pilot.