Upcoming changes to commissioned NHS services for children and young people

NHS Devon is pleased to announce upcoming changes to several services supporting the emotional health and wellbeing of children and young people across the One Devon system.

As part of the organisation’s commitment to the national ambition of ensuring Mental Health Support Teams (MHSTs) are available in all education settings by 2029/30, NHS Devon will be commissioning two additional MHSTs to begin training this year.

This expansion will bring the total number of MHSTs in Devon to 16, enabling support for approximately 105,000 children and young people once the teams are fully operational.

To learn more about the Mental Health Support Teams, please visit:

In addition, throughout 2024/25, NHS Devon led a collaborative procurement process involving expert stakeholders from across One Devon.

This process focused on commissioning emotional wellbeing and mental health services – outside of existing arrangements with Livewell Southwest and Children and Family Health Devon – in a way that ensures equity, effectiveness, and sustainability.

Following a robust and competitive process, the Young Devon Partnership was awarded the contract for a newly designed Emotional Wellbeing & Mental Health Service.

This service will support young people aged 11-18 to access timely advice, guidance, and therapeutic support, whether online or within their communities. It will include a youth work-based offer, digital advice and therapy, and face-to-face therapeutic interventions.

This new service will replace the existing provision from Young Devon and Kooth. NHS Devon is currently working closely with the Young Devon Partnership to mobilise the new service, which will become operational in July 2025.

As part of this transition, some areas may experience changes in how emotional wellbeing support is accessed.

The new model is designed to work flexibly across communities, ensuring young people receive support in the settings most appropriate to them.

In particular, secondary schools in Plymouth may see a shift away from fixed, school-based resources to a more responsive, community-oriented approach.

Additionally, the Systemic Family Therapy service provided by Family Matters in Plymouth will come to an end in June 2025.

The service is no longer accepting new referrals and is focusing on completing work with families currently engaged.

While family-based approaches remain an important aspect of our mental health services, there are currently no specific alternative family therapy services commissioned through NHS Devon.

Accessing support

Young people can still access a wide range of support options:

  • Visit provider websites for self-help resources, digital guidance, and service information
  • Speak to a Children’s Wellbeing Practitioner or MHST member within their school
  • Contact their GP for further support
  • In a mental health crisis, call NHS 111 to speak with a mental health professional.

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