Investment in Children in Care with Complex Needs
Toucan, the West Midlands CAMHS Provider Collaborative, has announced a new investment of more than £19 million to improve mental health support for children and young people across the region.
Of this, £11.6 million is dedicated to enabling local systems to invest in services for Children in Care with complex needs. While the remaining funds will strengthen and mobilise developmental mental health services for all children and young people.
Care experienced children often have multiple and complex needs, frequently linked to experiences of childhood adversity and trauma.
This transformation will support our ambitions within the West Midlands to build the first trauma sensitive system for Children in Care - one where every part of the system, from leadership to front line practice, recognises the impact of trauma, and can respond with care and compassion.
Funding will be allocated to deliver a large-scale programme of transformation and change, including workforce training and skill development, as well as creating new evidence-based multi-agency models fit for children in care.
A trauma sensitive system means that every part of the system is built on an understanding of how trauma affects people's lives, behaviour and relationships. It recognises that a child’s past experiences can affect how they think, feel, and behave, and encourages responses with understanding rather than judgement.
It’s about creating safety, trust, and a sense of belonging in every place a child lives, learns, and grows.
Elaine Kirwan Clinical Director of Toucan, said:
“We are continuing to develop services that truly understand how trauma affects children’s lives and experiences.
"This investment will strengthen how partners work together around each child, ensuring that every professional can respond with a trauma sensitive lens and with care and consistency. By strengthening our coordinated approach, we can further ensure children in care across the region have stability, support, and opportunities to achieve positive outcomes"
The funding will enable us to:
- Improve collaboration across partners health, social care, education, and justice.
- Enhance community and home-based specialist foster care support as an alternative to residential care to reduce hospital admissions and out-of-area placements.
- Provide training and development to upskill staff and carers supporting children in care to bring about the best outcomes for them including their experience of relational and trauma sensitive care.
This work reflects Toucan’s collective ambition to improve pathways and outcomes for our most vulnerable children and young people, ensuring that services are compassionate, coordinated, and rooted in trauma-informed practice.
We will share further updates on implementation and next steps as soon as possible.