ABSTRACT
Although child safeguarding practices have developed enormously since Victorian times, and awareness of mental health problems and disorders in childhood has risen, the proportion of those who need mental health support and social care but who do not receive support that meets their needs remains high. This so-called ‘treatment gap’ has resulted in substantial disparities in access to mental health services for vulnerable groups, such as children growing up in care and young care leavers. Here, the term ‘vulnerable groups’ is used to refer to individuals/groups who are made vulnerable by the situations and environments that they are exposed to, rather than through any inherent weakness or lack of capacity. This chapter reflects on current and past practices with a focus on safeguarding and mental health support in childhood, drawing on research data presented in the present volume as well as wider debates in this area. It also provides insights into the legacy of the deserving/undeserving paradigm, specifically in relation to the most vulnerable children with the most complex (mental health) needs and damaging pre-care (care and post-care) experiences. Ultimately, this chapter aims to provide examples of good and bad practices with vulnerable children and families, with a view to finding and identifying ways forward.
