Calls for mental health assessments before children enter care system

Peers have pressed for mental health checks to be introduced for children entering the care system.

The Government had already agreed to change its proposals to include the promotion of mental health alongside the physical welfare of looked after youngsters.

However, a number of peers felt this did not go far enough.

Liberal Democrat Baroness Tyler of Enfield led a move at the report stage of the Children and Social Work Bill, which would require a local authority to carry out a mental health assessment when a child was taken into care.

Under the amendment, regular monitoring would need to be carried out alongside the provision of any necessary support.

Lady Tyler said it would ensure practical improvements to the care the children received.

She added: “What this amendment seeks to do is establish a mechanism which will identify children’s needs early, refer them to the right services and ensure that services do actually exist that children in care are able to access and access easily.”

She was supported by former children’s TV presenter Baroness Benjamin, who said: “This is essential to ensure the assessment of need will be translated into practical support.”

Lady Benjamin added that the state as corporate parent had “a moral duty to do so”.

Independent crossbencher Baroness Howe of Idlicote said carrying out such an assessment could help avoid the future breakdown of placements.

Fellow crossbencher Baroness Murphy said she was “astonished” such a measure was not already in place.

She was concerned the Government’s concession did not “address the practicalities”.

Education minister Lord Nash said local authorities were already under a duty to safeguard the welfare of looked after children.

He pointed out youngsters being taken into care were given a comprehensive health check.

If mental health issues were identified, the child would be referred to the relevant professionals.

The minister stressed the need to target specialist resources effectively.

However, he agreed to meet Lady Tyler to discuss the issue.

Lord Nash also stressed the need of a targeted approach in response to a call by independent crossbencher Lord Ramsbotham, the former chief inspector of prisons, for looked after children to be assessed for learning difficulties.

The minister said: “We do not think screening all children is appropriate.”

Later, the Government narrowly avoided a defeat over providing benefits support for care leavers to give them financial security.

Peers voted by 188 to 179, majority nine, against a proposal to extend help for those leaving the care system up until the age of 25.

It would have included a softening of benefit sanctions for care leavers, the provision of working tax credit and a council tax exemption.

The amendment proposed by independent crossbencher the Earl of Listowel at the report stage of the Children and Social Work Bill was backed by both Labour and the Liberal Democrats.

Highlighting the difficulties faced by care leavers, the Lord Listowel said: “Without a family to call on they may quickly find themselves alone and in debt, perhaps destitute.

“Our ambition must be to secure care leavers with the necessary skills and training to allow them to excel and achieve their full potential as we would wish our own children.

“However, financial security, the bedrock of being able to do these things, is so often difficult for them.”

Lord Listowel said in its role as a corporate parent, national government needed to provide “a robust offering for care leavers, with a particular focus on financial support”.

While it was not for the Lords to decide on financial matters, he argued there should be the opportunity for MPs to consider support “vital to the welfare of care leavers”.

Opposition spokesman Lord Watson of Invergowrie said there was a need for a national offer because of the “patchwork provision” locally.

Lord Nash said he understood the intention behind the amendment but was not convinced it was the best way to provide financial support for care leavers.

Ministers believed local authorities were best placed to make decisions about council tax support schemes and did not want to give “blanket exemptions” because of the impact it would have on council finances.

Urging peers to withdraw the amendment, Lord Nash promised to speak to other ministers to see whether there was scope to apply less stringent benefit sanctions for care leavers.

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