Looked After Children in Residential Homes

Background: Looked after children in residential children's homes constitute a particularly vulnerable group who are known to have high rates of mental health problems and limited access to services.

Method: A survey was undertaken in Leeds to determine what proportion of these children are involved with mental health services, and to look at the different ways in which child and adolescent mental health services across the city are currently working with this group.

Results: Of the 177 children in residential children's homes in August 2000, 64% had had some contact with child mental health services in the previous 5 years and 27% were in current contact. Thirty-six percent had had no contact with services over the past five years.

Conclusions: It was anticipated from a review of the literature that a higher proportion of children would have been currently in contact with services. The findings suggest that the pattern of services offered to this group of children is changing, with an increase in consultation with, and training of, staff in residential children's homes. The paper ends with a discussion of whether or not this is a positive change and how CAMH resources might best be utilised in the future.