A LONG-term plan to improve targeted emotional wellbeing services for youngsters has been proposed by North Yorkshire County Council.

The council has launched a public consultation into the plans that would see the authority work on a longer term basis with the NHS North Yorkshire Clinical Commissioning Group (NYCCG).

The county council currently commissions an emotional wellbeing service as part of The Healthy Child Programme, which is a child and family health promotion scheme.

Some of the healthy child services are for all children, and some are targeted to those in need, such as substance misuse and the emotional wellbeing service.

The NYCCG also commissions a school-based emotional wellbeing service for youngsters in North Yorkshire.

The council is now consulting over whether to enter an agreement with the CCG which would see them work together over a longer period of five years, as opposed to tendering the contract every two to three years.

This longer term arrangement would potentially allow the council and the CCG to work together more effectively in delivering emotional and mental wellbeing services to children and young people.

For instance, by providing clear and consistent information for children, young people and their families and carers on how to access early support and specialist advice.

It is anticipated it would help strengthen children and young people’s positive experience of the service.

Whilst the proposed partnership would initially be put in place for a total of five years, it would be reviewed after three.

Under the agreement, the county council would enter into a partnership agreement with the CCG, with the clinical commissioning group taking lead commissioning responsibility.

Councillor Janet Sanderson, executive member for children’s services said: “A five year arrangement would allow the agencies involved to work together more effectively to deliver emotional and mental wellbeing services to children and young people in need of support.

“We believe it will put the service on a more solid footing and enable us to provide a more holistic, joined-up service for children and young people in the county who need targeted support.”

The public can submit views about the proposals, visit www.northyorks.gov.uk/ehs75 or email EmotionalHealth.AndWellbeing@northyorks.gov.uk

The consultation closes on November 8, 2021 and subject to the outcome of the consultation, the agreement would be scheduled to be in place on April 1, 2022.