This Is Not Just Fostering…this is Putting children’s outcomes first
Mechelle Holley, TACT’s Health Commissioning & Performance Manager
On why it is important that TACT’s dedicated Health Service provides timely mental health support to young people.
In an industry shaped by significant regulation, process, and procedure, it is important to look beyond compliance and ask the most important, and often most challenging, question: what does this child need to thrive, and how do we make that happen?
Why is the question difficult to answer?
This question is difficult not because we doubt its importance, but because social care systems are often shaped by thresholds, eligibility criteria, and available resources rather than individual need.
Children’s experiences of trauma, loss, and instability do not always fit neatly into service models, and professionals are often balancing competing pressures – from risk and cost to placement stability and capacity. Answering this question properly requires time, flexibility, and a willingness to work differently.
Despite these challenges, this mindset must underpin our approach within health commissioning, where we advocate for children and young people to access services that truly meet their psychological, mental health, and wellbeing needs.
For many children in care, their needs do not fit neatly into diagnostic categories or service criteria. Their distress is often expressed through behaviour, relationships, and emotional dysregulation – all of which require timely, relational, and trauma-informed responses.
A timely response is key
When statutory pathways are unable to offer a timely response, commissioning becomes more than procurement – it becomes an ethical and moral responsibility. We recognise that local authorities face real financial pressures, particularly when funding services that should be provided through statutory provision. However, the impact of unmet need is felt most by children and those who care for them, through increased distress, instability, and strain on relationships.
Children should not bear the consequences of systems struggling to meet demand. Their needs must come first. Acting early not only prevents challenges from escalating but is also the most responsible and effective use of resources, ensuring children receive the right help at the right time.
Reinvesting to address gaps in provision
As a charity, TACT is committed to improving the life chances of children and young people. By reinvesting surplus back into services, we are able to support local authorities in addressing gaps in provision. This enables a shared approach, focused on practical solutions that ensure children receive timely and meaningful support.
Our framework offer further strengthens this approach. It provides access to a wide and flexible range of services that can be tailored to each child’s individual needs. Rather than a one-size-fits-all model, we can connect children with support that works for them.
This flexibility allows us to respond quickly and effectively, helping children feel understood, supported, and able to thrive – this is putting children’s needs and outcomes at the heart of decision making.
