Children and young people rarely experience their needs in neatly separated categories.
A child experiencing trauma may also be struggling with school attendance, family relationships, emotional wellbeing and safeguarding concerns.
Yet the services intended to support them can sometimes operate through separate assessment processes, referral pathways and eligibility criteria.
This fragmentation can make it harder for children and families to access timely, coordinated support.
The government's announcement of a new mental health pilot for children and young people supported by social care provides an important opportunity to consider how these gaps can be addressed.
What Is the Care Together Pilot?
Announced on 23 October 2026, Care Together is a new programme designed to test a more integrated approach to mental health and children's social care.
The pilot will be delivered through Greater Manchester Integrated Care Board in partnership with Stockport, Tameside and Rochdale local authorities.
Up to £9.4 million will be invested over three years.
The programme will embed mental health professionals from existing NHS services within children's social care teams.
It is intended to cover up to 7,000 children and young people, alongside their parents, carers and guardians.
Support may include access to mental health expertise, family therapy and assistance for parents and primary caregivers.
The aim is to reduce fragmented provision and enable children and families to access more timely, needs-led support.
Why Integration Matters for Safeguarding
Children supported by social care may have experienced abuse, neglect, exploitation, family instability or other forms of adversity.
Their emotional and mental health needs may be closely connected to these experiences.
However, safeguarding and mental health concerns are not always considered together.
A child's distress may be interpreted primarily as a behavioural issue.
Their difficulties attending school may be addressed without sufficient exploration of trauma or harm.
Alternatively, a safeguarding concern may be managed without appropriate attention to the child's emotional recovery and longer-term wellbeing.
Integrated working offers an opportunity to develop a fuller understanding of the child's circumstances.
The Importance of Professional Curiosity
Effective safeguarding requires professionals to look beyond presenting concerns.
Where a child displays distress, withdrawal, aggression or changes in behaviour, it is important to consider what those behaviours may be communicating.
This does not mean assuming every mental health difficulty indicates abuse or neglect.
It means maintaining curiosity about the child's experiences, relationships, environment and support needs.
Professionals should also consider how information from different services contributes to the overall picture.
A concern that appears relatively limited to one agency may become more significant when viewed alongside information held elsewhere.
Hearing the Child's Voice
Integrated services must remain centred on the child rather than simply improving professional processes.
Children and young people should have meaningful opportunities to express their wishes, feelings and experiences.
Professionals need to consider how children communicate, including where disability, trauma, developmental needs or other circumstances affect communication.
The child's voice should inform assessment, planning and review.
Importantly, services should consider whether children experience support as accessible, consistent and helpful.
Better coordination between professionals is valuable, but the real test is whether it improves the child's lived experience.
Supporting Families Without Overlooking Risk
The Care Together programme also recognises the importance of support for parents, carers and guardians.
Family relationships and circumstances can have a significant influence on children's emotional wellbeing.
Supportive, coordinated interventions may help address difficulties earlier and reduce the risk of needs escalating.
However, family-focused approaches must not obscure safeguarding concerns or place inappropriate responsibility on children to manage harmful circumstances.
Professionals need to balance family support with clear risk assessment, protective action and accountability.
What Should Safeguarding Leaders Consider?
The pilot provides an opportunity for organisations and safeguarding partnerships to reflect on their existing arrangements.
Are children's mental health and safeguarding needs considered together where appropriate?
Do referral thresholds or service boundaries create delays in accessing support?
Are professionals sharing relevant information effectively?
Do assessments reflect the child's experiences rather than solely the presenting behaviour?
Are children and families involved meaningfully in decisions?
Are outcomes evaluated beyond the completion of referrals and interventions?
These questions apply beyond the areas participating in the pilot.
Learning from the Pilot
The Care Together programme is a pilot, not an established national model.
Its effectiveness will need to be evaluated, including whether it improves access, coordination and outcomes for children and families.
Nevertheless, the underlying ambition is important.
Children should not have to navigate fragmented systems to receive support for needs that are closely connected.
Safeguarding and mental health services must work together around the child, rather than expecting the child to fit around the boundaries of different services.
How RLB Safeguarding Can Help
RLB Safeguarding supports organisations through safeguarding consultancy, training, audits and reflective supervision.
We work with professionals and leaders to strengthen multi-agency working, professional curiosity, risk assessment and child-centred safeguarding practice.
Source: DHSC: New Mental Health Pilot for Young People Supported by Social Care