HL Deb 23 February 2004 vol 658 c36WA
The Earl of Listowel

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What steps they are taking to ensure that appropriate regular visits are undertaken by either a clinical psychologist, a phychiatrist or a child psychotherapist to each residential child care unit. [HL1203]

Lord Warner

Decisions on the frequency of visits to meet the mental health needs of children living in residential child care units are best made locally in order that the specific needs of individual children and communities can be addressed.

In general, it is the Government's belief that all children, including those in residential units, should have access to high-quality child and adolescent mental health services (C.AMHS) when they need them. It is the Government's aim to increase and improve the level of CAMHS provision generally. Approximately £250 million is being invested in CAMHS over three years and one of the key challenges will be to ensure that there are sufficient trained clinical staff to meet the mental health needs of all chidren.