Better Decisions, Better Futures: Improving Mental Health Provision for Children in Care
Across the UK over 100,000 children and teens are in local authority care - a number that continues to grow. Many young people in care have had extremely difficult early experiences, including abuse and neglect and exposure to violence in the home and community. Once in care, many face ongoing instability, including separation from siblings and changes in placements (and therefore carers and homes). There is strong evidence highlighting the mental health needs of children in care. Despite this, many children in care still face significant barriers to accessing effective mental health support. It doesn’t have to be this way. With the right training, commissioning, and a shift away from unevidenced practice and misconceptions around mental health, more areas can improve their mental health provision.
In this free UK Trauma Council Insight Series in collaboration with CoramBAAF, experts will come together to answer the questions they are most frequently asked about supporting the mental health of children in care, drawing on research evidence, lived-experience, and frontline practice.
What do decision makers need to know about the mental health needs of children in care?
What do we know some of the key barriers are to accessing mental health care for this group?
What do we mean by best-evidenced mental health care and how does it apply to children in care?
What should we expect from mental health services for children in care?
WHAT YOU'LL LEARN
Develop your knowledge in understanding and applying evidence when supporting the mental health of children in care.
Demystify the evidence base around the mental health needs of children and teens in care.
Learn practical, research-informed approaches that are already working in parts of England, and explore how they can be adapted in your area.
WHO'S IT FOR?
This webinar is for social care professionals, medical advisers, doctors and nurses working with care experienced and adopted children, mental health professionals, commissioners, corporate parents, and virtual school heads.
PRESENTERS
Chair – Prof Rachel Hiller
Rachel is an Associate Professor in Child & Adolescent Mental Health at University College London (UCL). She is also the Head of Postgraduate Studies at Anna Freud and Co-Director of the UK Trauma Council. Rachel is a member of the Board of Directors for the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ISTSS). Rachel’s research focuses on complex child trauma and adversity, with a particular focus on the mental health and wellbeing of children who have a social worker (including those who are in care). Her work here spans investigating psychological and social mechanisms linking trauma and adversity to mental health, as well as the effectiveness and implementation of scalable interventions across social care and mental health settings.
Prof Pasco Fearon
Prof Fearon is a developmental and clinical psychologist, and Director of the Centre for Child, Adolescent & Family Research at the University of Cambridge. He is internationally recognised for his work on child development, children’s mental health, and the critical role of caregiving in shaping emotional, cognitive, and psychological outcomes. His research spans large-scale longitudinal studies — including the Children of the 2020s Study — and multiple intervention trials aimed at supporting families facing adversity. Prof Fearon also contributes to national policy efforts in the UK and internationally, and actively collaborates with partners in countries such as Canada, the Netherlands, Ghana, and South Africa. At the heart of his work is a deep commitment to promoting positive developmental outcomes through early intervention, sensitive caregiving, and mental health support.
Shaunna Devine
Shaunna Devine is care experienced and currently a PhD researcher at Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU). She graduated with a First Class degree in BSc Psychology in 2019, followed by a Distinction in her MSc in Brain and Behaviour (Neuroscience) in 2020. She was awarded a Vice-Chancellor scholarship to undertake a PhD in the School of Psychology, Faculty of Health, Innovation, Technology and Science. Shaunna’s PhD is titled, “Pathways to Social Connectedness in Care Experienced People” explores how early life experiences, including experiences of the care system, can influence sensitivity to social connectedness. In addition to her academic work, Shaunna joined the National Network for the Education of Care Leavers (NNECL) in February 2025 as a Programme Support Officer. In this role, she leads the Inspire Pilot and contributes to a range of wider NNECL projects. Shaunna has been a keen advocate for care experienced people and has advocated for children's rights through her membership on several boards and organisations. This includes the Local Authority Corporate Parenting Board, Unite Foundation sounding board, Become’s widening participation projects, and LJMU Care Experienced and Estranged Board.
FEES
OPEN TO ALL
CONTACT
Please note this event is being hosted by the Anna Freud Centre. For any enquiries relating to your booking please contact:
Email info@annafreud.org