Service Use by Looked After Children with Behavioural Problems: Findings from the England Survey (Report‪)‬

Introduction The high rates of mental health problems and related needs among looked after children and young people are well established (McCann et al, 1996; Anderson et al, 2004a; Holtan et al, 2005; Richards et al, 2006; Ford et al, 2007b; Sawyer et al, 2007). Data from the Great Britain mental health surveys of looked after children showed that they had significantly higher rates of mental health disorders than children living in deprived private households, as well as the general population (Ford et al, 2007b). As found by previous research, these were particularly prominent among those living in residential care and who had experienced multiple placements. Even young children at the time of entering local authority care have been shown to have high rates of mental health problems (children aged 5-12 years in Dimigen et al, 1999).