More help for vulnerable children
Released: Friday, 25 January 2008
Some of the city’s most vulnerable children and their parents will get more help with their social, emotional and behavioural development as Wolverhampton City Council becomes a Pathfinder local authority in a new Government programme to help schools and support services improve children’s mental health.
The city council and Wolverhampton City Primary Care Trust will receive £700,000 over the next three years to develop local multi-agency teams working in partnership with schools and parents to identify children at risk and provide effective help early on.
Councillor Christine Irvine, Lead Member for Schools said: “I am very pleased that Wolverhampton has been chosen as a Pathfinder authority in this new programme designed to identify children at risk of mental health problems early on so that timely support and help can be given.
“We all know that problems such as depression and anxiety can make life very difficult and children in this position often do not understand their own feelings and are unsure where to turn for help.
“Pathfinder status builds on existing good work and will aim at preventing any early problems children experience from getting worse.
“This will be a multi-agency approach involving health workers, the voluntary sector, youth worker, school based staff and educational psychologists and welfare officers amongst others.
“Such timely support can often deal with the issues and prevent problems from affecting school work and family life”, she added.
Department of Health statistics suggest that at least 10% of children and young people suffer from significant mental health problems including depression and anxiety.
These can cause other problems with friends, within the family and with school work so that getting the right help early on is very important.
The Pathfinder programme builds on the nationally recognised excellent work of the Wolverhampton City Council’s Behaviour and Education Support Teams and will initially focus on schools in the North and South East of Wolverhampton.
Issued by the press office.