Children’s Services in Crisis

If the poor boy refused to move for accommodation what could be done for him ?

Did anyone see the media reports today about a vulnerable 17 year old homeless boy. The reports say he refused housing offered because it was 30 miles away. A social worker was involved and somehow it was deemed suitable to buy the boy a tent which the social worker helped him put up. The boy became emaciated and ended up in a psychiatric unit.
This is indefensible. I'll bet though, that no money has been spent on building or maintaining housing for vulnerable 17 year olds in Cornwall. There is a real issue about second homes in all our beautiful sea or countryside areas. Housing is beyond the reach of local people. That's a whole other rant though I expect.

Luckygirl, Oldbatty I agree that the state should be there as a safety net.

In some families where there is unemployment, low educational achievements over several generations, they may not realise that their children have mental health issues, and when they do have no idea how to access the services available (if any).

Schools exclude "difficult" children and the cycle continues.

Let's hope that the money pledged in the budget yesterday has a positive effect.

Yes, lucky and I can bet as with a lot of things he/she who makes a fuss is first in the queue when it comes to getting help.

But where the home is less than ideal the state needs to step in to prevent further mayhem down the line - but without money allocated to such services it cannot do so. Hence these poor children's needs being squeezed out.

Social media has a lot to blame for children/young peoples mental health issues. Instagram/Facebook posts which have been edited and airbrushed show an unachievable image. Many false accounts of their social lives. Bullying on line is on the increase, new to this generation, different problems seen by a multitude of "followers".

The foundations for a happy, secure and confident life must start in the home, whether it be a traditional family, lone parent (through divorce, bereavement or choice), 2 Mums or 2 Dads.

Different reasons for mental health problems need different solutions, maybe the services need a new approach.

I think Annie, schools used to be able to some extent provide some of the nurture that sadly is missing from many homes.
I don't think that is the case despite the very best efforts of many.

I also think the obsession with social media has a lot to answer for.

Yes, Lazy I agree. That is my perception. There are very few opportunities for social mobility. People are stuck in ghettos, school league tables fan the flames and the gap widens.

Having said that, I live in what is regarded as a wealthy area and there is a massive increase in MH problems.

What is going wrong in the home because home is where foundations are formed

I worked with families for most of my working life and before I left I could see the adverse effects that cuts were beginning to have on CAMHS, preschool provision, counselling and so many other services. I am also surprised that people are not out demonstrating on the streets but it isn’t the British way is it? I think that the poor mental health of children is a symptom of a wider dysfunctional society, which has become more selfish, individualistic and polarised. There of course some who are doing well in our society and have no will to change things as they are not adversely affected. The chancellor has just offered a bribe of tax cuts which will no doubt win the Tories the next election.

rise not rice!

Iam, that sounds awful and frustrating. Nothing to do with politics, its just sad and wrong.

I was discussing this with a friend......young people self harming, school phobic, the apparent rice in ASD and so on.
I just don't understand it. Something is going so wrong. Sensible, early intervention has to be best morally and financially.

oldbatty - I endorse your statement about education.

TwiceAsNice the high school here had a counsellor nine years ago, kept in touch with me regarding my grandchildren, it certaintly helped me knowing if my grandchildren were coping when things were difficult .

We are indeed TwiceAsNice. I sometimes wonder why there haven't been demonstrations on the streets as a result of the devastation of our public services. I also despair that the Labour Party isn't consistently and increasingly streets ahead of the Tories in the polls. Hearing Hammond blame the last Labour government for the economic crash, again, had me shouting at the radio. It seems though, that many believe it.

I work in the SE now where Camhs seems to be as squeezed as it was in the S Wales area I previously worked. One advantage Wales has had for a long time is the Welsh government put in a counsellor to every senior school ( Northern Ireland also did this). It is not happening in England. Social Services were at rock bottom with staff at burn out level when I worked in that sector in the late 90's to 2003 when I left so funding hasn't changed for a long time. If you don't put in the effort with children and young people then adult services also become overwhelmed as mentioned by others on here. I don't know what the answer is but Camhs is in the worst crisis possible and time for all MP's whatever party to wake up and smell the coffee. We are failing our young people dreadfully

Maybe Annie, maybe

Perhaps some have taken your advice and found hobbies to occupy their time Iam

Anniebach - I wondered whether any posters would make supportive comments for the austerity agenda which has decimated our services. So far, no one has.

Lucky, the department I worked for provided a free and highly specialised counselling/therapy service for any staff involved in safeguarding. That of course, included our excellent admin staff who typed out the often distressing records. The admin staff were amongst the first to go, with the result staff lost a valued source of support and friendship in the office, alongside which they were expected to do the job and keep the files up to date. The files of course stopped being a proper record of events and became increasingly tick the box. Despite that, I'd say at least 80% of time was spent on admin work, with time spent with children and families squeezed to dangerous levels.

Our children are our future, this isn't something new. The idea of placing a so called mental health expert in every school, whilst well qualified and experienced CAMHS staff are made redundant, departments closed down and all preventive, support services are closed, well I'm beyond cross.

Perhaps if children weren't forced into an educational straight jacket at 4, there would be fewer MH problems. That and proper food and hydration.

Iam64 - I hear what you are saying about the rigidity of the 5 year idea - I just think that most of the child protection SWs I worked with were frankly burnt out, and there was no system for supporting them. It was sink or swim. Experience is valuable indeed; but loses its value if the person with that experience is sinking under the strain.

The absence of pre-school family support services is what has led us into the territory of needing mental health specialists in schools.

Once upon a time those services were available in CAMHS and in Sure Start centres. There is no point in taking funding from things that are working; waiting for the situation to deteriorate out of control and then slapping n some new idea.

Steady consistent support for frontline services is what is needed. No such luck.

Indeed - anything vaguely resembling preventative work got knocked on the head and crisis management became the name of the game.

CAMHS is a joke now - one of the services to which a close relative was referred had no staff - just a clerk ringing people up to tell them there were no staff. There was an office and desks and filing cabinets and computers and phones - but no professional staff.

The trouble is that once you pull back on frontline activity and preventative work, turning things around is a long term slow process.

Parents of troubled children - and indeed physically disabled children - expend vast amounts of energy (physical and emotional) knocking on door after door trying to get some basic help.

It is all very depressing indeed.

I can't imagine how they're going to find a 'mental health specialist' for each school Who is going to train them? And especially when the adult mental health services are rapidly losing staff :
www.theguardian.com/society/2018/sep/15/nhs-mental-health-crisis-staff-quit

You expected disagreement Iam?