The Family Services Select Committee was scheduled to discuss the emotional wellbeing and mental health services for children and young people, as well as review the committee's work programme for the upcoming year. The meeting also included a period of silence to commemorate the Grenfell tragedy.

Emotional Wellbeing and Mental Health Services

The committee was scheduled to receive an update on the progress of the refreshed Emotional Wellbeing and Mental Health (EWMH) Plan for children and young people (CYP). This plan, a joint initiative between the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC), Westminster City Council (WCC), and the NHS North West London Integrated Care Board (ICB), aims to improve access to services, support vulnerable CYP, and enhance mental health awareness.

Key achievements highlighted in the report pack included securing additional funding for Mental Health Youth Workers, increasing resources for the Under 5s CAMHS service, and meeting national targets for CAMHS waiting times. The report also detailed progress against the EWMH Plan's three key areas: increasing community access to services, supporting vulnerable CYP, and improving knowledge about mental health. This included the work of Mental Health Support Teams (MHSTs) in schools and Mental Health Youth Workers (MHYWs) in youth clubs.

The report pack also addressed concerns raised previously regarding the impact of social media, cyberbullying, and screen time on young people's mental health. It noted that MHSTs and MHYWs have incorporated digital resilience and online safety into their work, with workshops on social media being particularly well-attended.

For the year ahead, priorities include working with the ICB to ensure adequate mental health support for children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), continuing to address the findings of the Annual Public Health Report 2026, and identifying solutions to increasing children's mental health needs amidst financial pressures.

The report pack also included appendices detailing the EWMH Plan itself, a booklet for parents and carers, the Annual Public Health Report 2026, and a previous update on EWMH in 2025.

Work Programme Report

The committee was scheduled to discuss its work programme for the upcoming municipal year. This involved reviewing suggested items for inclusion, with the Family and Children's Services Directorate proposing topics such as partnership working with schools and the development of the new Children and Young People's Plan. The committee was also scheduled to discuss recommendations related to the Children and Young People's Plan 2027-2030, including engaging with school staff in its development.

The report pack outlined the principles of effective scrutiny and work programming criteria, detailing the services within the Family Services Select Committee's remit and opportunities for scrutiny involvement in upcoming policies and projects. It also listed suggested topics for scrutiny, including Social Care Reforms, SEND Reforms, the Bi-Borough School Inclusion Strategy, and the 2027-30 Children and Young People's Plan. The report also detailed the committee's scheduled meetings for the municipal year.

The report pack also included an overview of services within the Communities and Culture Department, a budget summary for 2026/27, and identified challenges and risks such as rising care costs and the need for savings. Opportunities for scrutiny involvement were listed, including the Emotional Wellbeing & Mental Health Plan – One Year On report and Social Care Reform.

The report pack also contained a document titled Introduction to Children's Services, which provided an overview of Bi-Borough Children's Services, including operational areas, education, safeguarding, and educational equity. It also detailed the budget summary for 2026/27, highlighting proposed savings, and outlined priorities for the Children and Young People's Plan 2026/27, including upcoming inspections and social care reforms.

The report pack also included information on SEND Reforms, school attendance initiatives, and Regional Care Cooperatives, alongside identified risks and challenges such as rising care costs and budget pressures. Finally, it detailed opportunities for scrutiny involvement and an overview of services within the Communities & Culture Department.