Self harm and aggression increase in child mental health issues post Covid

Children’s mental health in West Berkshire is expected to soak up more council finances than forecast due to longer term effects of the Covid pandemic.

While the year end forecast on West Berkshire Council costs shows a £300k underspend, the children and family services division is reporting a £500k overspend.

In a report to the district council’s executive committee it says the issue most obvious is poor mental health and emotional wellbeing, with behaviours such as self-harm, aggression, and risk taking behaviours becoming more prevalent.

As a consequence it says it is harder for these children to be cared for in a foster home, and a specialist residential facility becomes necessary.

"Residential placements are £0.65m over spent," says the report. "And whilst the children in care population has generally been stable, we are seeing increasing complexity in the needs of children who have either recently entered care or have become unsettled after a period of relative stability in care."

Adult social care is also feeling the pinch, with long term services £2.1m overspent, the report reveals.

The additional costs are being put down to more people surviving Covid, and the impact of patients being discharged from hospital earlier through the Covid Hospital Discharge Scheme and requiring more care.

The report says that the number of clients moving onto a long term service is increasing the cost of care packages due to the amount of care required.