ntal health, is suffering as a result (DHSC, 2024). CQC’s state of heath care report cited data that in 2023, one in five children and young people between the ages of 8 and 25 were estimated to have a probable mental health disorder (CQC, 2024). The CQC underlined the huge impact on children and young people of mental health support and intervention delayed or denied. And yet, timely access to child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) continues to be a challenge, with children with social care involvement and those from deprived communities being systematically more likely to be refused mental health services following a referral (Mannes et al., 2024). DCSs suggested that pathways require wholesale transformation and that funding to local authorities, to lead on the provision of earlier help to support positive mental health and wellbeing, will be required to meet the exponential increase in demand. SP9 respondents consistently reported a deterioration in the mental health of parents, carers, children and young people since the pandemic, which was seen to accelerate and aggravate pre-existing inequalities and safeguarding pressures. Across the population, the mental health impact of the pandemic is being keenly felt among young people, especially those with a disability, those living in more deprived areas, those who are neurodivergent and those with special educational needs and lower levels of school attendance. Reduced social interaction, concerns about access to healthcare and medication, and financial stress have all been identified as contributing factors (British Medical Association, 2023). Over three-quarters (77%) of survey respondents reported an increase in safeguarding demand over the past two years associated with children and young people’s ment