A NEW team to help care experienced young people navigate the mental health system has launched this week.

The Therapeutic Wellbeing Service for care leavers will support access to existing mental health services, identify gaps in provision, and advocate for young people in strategic meetings. It will also be able to offer some therapeutic support themselves.

Care experienced young people had told Devon County Council (DCC) that they sometimes find the complexity of the mental health system challenging to navigate, which meant that young people couldn’t always access support and services they needed.

The new team will work with care experienced young people to help them get the help they need.

Young people were involved with the recruitment of the Therapeutic Wellbeing Practitioners and have helped influence what the new service looks like

Councillor Andrew Leadbetter, Cabinet Member with responsibility for children’s services said: ‘We are committed to listening to our care experienced young people and taking action based on their feedback.

‘The introduction of the new Therapeutic Wellbeing Service for care leavers is demonstration of that.

‘Care experienced young people have told us that mental health support is a priority for them, so we are pleased to be able to offer them a service that will help them access the support that they need.’