In England, over 80,000 children are in care, a number that continues to grow. Many of them have experienced abuse and neglect, often linked to poverty, inequality, domestic violence, parental mental ill-health, and/or substance misuse.
Once in care, separation from siblings and family networks is all too common, and every year around a third of children in care experience a placement change. These moves disrupt their stability, relationships, and sense of belonging. Older teenagers in care may also face inadequate housing and limited support as they transition to adulthood.
There is strong evidence highlighting the mental health needs of children in care. Research shows they are at least four times more likely than their peers to have a diagnosable mental health condition, such as anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress, or conduct problems.
Despite this, many children in care still face significant barriers to accessing effective mental health support. Young people, caregivers, and professionals continue to raise concerns about inequalities and inequity in care. Addressing these challenges is crucial to ensuring that children in care receive the support they need to be well and thrive.
The long-overdue conversation about improving mental health provision for children in care is finally getting the attention it deserves. The recently published report National Recommendations Mental Health Provision for Children in Care outlines urgent, systemic changes needed to ensure care-experienced children receive the support they need—when and how they need it.
At Sonnet, we’ve seen first-hand how fractured systems, unclear accountability, and lack of consistent therapeutic provision can negatively impact the very young people who most need security and care. The recommendations in this report echo many of the challenges we’ve helped clients explore—and they align with the calls for a trauma-informed, whole-system response that doesn’t leave children navigating silos.
We welcome the emphasis on:
1. Integrated commissioning frameworks
2. Consistent access to support pre- and post-placement
3. Listening directly to young people about what they need
4. Improved cross-sector accountability
As a social-purpose organisation grounded in socio-economic impact and systems thinking, we support clients across health, social care and education to better design, measure, and implement solutions that work. We hope this report helps unlock the commitment and coherence needed to deliver on these recommendations—not just in policy, but in practice.
We’d love to hear from others working in this space: what’s resonating for you, what do you think about the recommendations and what needs to happen next?
