These Are Our Children

A review by Dame Christine Lenehan.

  • Theme: Processes and pathways
  • Strength: Emerging
  • Status: Referred

A review led by Dame Christine Lenehan calls for urgent action at a national level to prevent children with complex needs being institutionalised at an early age, at huge cost to the taxpayer and with low ambitions for improving their lives. 

The review drew evidence from civil servants, clinicians, managers, parents and young people. It found that despite numerous Government initiatives, accelerated since the abuse of people with learning disabilities was uncovered at Winterbourne View, there is not a clear vision for the treatment of children with complex needs involving challenging behaviour and a mix of mental health problems, learning disabilities and autism.