The number of people working in children and young people’s mental health services has increased 39% over the past three years, new data has shown.

Published by Health Education England, the data shows 24,848 staff are employed in the children and young people’s mental health services workforce across England. This is a 39% growth on the 14,857 whole time equivalent staff reported in the previous census in 2018.

Figures show that NHS mental health services are supporting 100,000 more children and young people than three years ago. The NHS Long Term Plan aims to increase the workforce by more than 27,000 people to meet the increase in demand for services.

Dr Navina Evans, chief executive of Health Education England, said: 'This important snapshot of the CYPMH workforce shows how it has grown since this census was first carried out in 2016, in response to the increasing need and demand for children and young people’s mental health care.

'All the staff who work across the CYPMH workforce have been vital in supporting more children and young people with mental health needs than ever before. It is essential that we continue to invest in education and training to grow the workforce further and encourage people to consider a career in mental healthcare.'

The Local Government Association (LGA) highlighted the report shows councils’ children and young people mental health workforce has fallen by 44% over the past three years.

Cllr Anntoinette Bramble, chair of the LGA’s Children and Young People Board, said: 'Local authorities need properly resourcing to take a lead role in mental health to help government build back better, particularly as mental health specialists are one of the biggest recruitment challenges for councils.

'This means being treated as more of an equal partner to the NHS in improving mental health and getting enough funding to help people in need of support in their communities.'