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Health and wellbeing for children and young people have rarely been off the collective lips of the adolescent care sector in recent weeks, following a General Election and King’s Speech filled with pledges to transform health and social care provisions.

Nuneaton-based children’s care provider, Almond Children’s Services, says that proposals to revolutionise support for the most vulnerable children are welcomed across the sector – but their success will depend on the willingness to act boldly.

Matthew Gorvin, Head of Children’s Services at Almond Care, said: “The communication from our new Government on children’s health and wellbeing is clear: security, fairness and opportunity.

“It seems to me that there will be a particular focus on youth justice and improving all aspects of social care, safeguarding and adoption to residential homes for young people, particularly from Janet Daby MP, the new Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Education.

“The Government’s aim to be a ‘mission-led’ administration is also apparent. I am very keen to see how this will play out once priority policies have been announced.”

Assessing the Government’s proposed policies, the provider particularly praised measures to address what authorities call the “woefully out of date” mental health legislation for children and young people, particularly those in care settings for whom the transition to independence in most challenging.

Matthew continued: “Within the sector, this is an area of shortfall in many ways, and has been noted by operators, staff and clients.

“One concern the care sector currently faces is the mental health of young adults moving out of children’s residential care. The statistics in relation to those people’s mental health, self-harm and even suicidal tendencies are alarming.

“This is not down to individual providers or staff, but rather seemingly down to the lack of infrastructure for young people transitioning into adulthood.

“For this reason, I’m really pleased to hear there is a proposal for a new legal right for children in residential care to see their families. This will further enforce the need for placing children closer to their families – but I think we can go further.

“There is still a significant shortfall of children’s homes in key areas, such as London and the South East. Despite the positive move made by current proposals, I feel there needs to be a greater emphasis on providing resources to local authorities to support local children’s homes.

“Alongside mental health treatment infrastructure, social support and safeguarding for vulnerable people, keeping young people local while accessing the support they need could set us on the path towards better all-round mental health for the most vulnerable.”