Children and young people’s mental health services continue to remain a high priority for government and the NHS. Delivering good outcomes for young people will require coordinated action across health, education, third sector and local government departments and between national and local bodies. There are opportunities through increased investment and more collaborative commissioning and service delivery arrangements to deliver a systems wide approach to providing care for children and young people. The COVID-19 pandemic has affected everyone although children and young people have been disproportionately adversely affected, as they have had to adapt to extraordinary changes to the world around them. New models of care can stimulate effective collaboration between commissioners and providers to develop integrated, accessible services for all in community based settings. Expanding access through digital support can enable more people to receive effective care providing greater accessibility and choice. A focus on quality improvement can support staff and patients to improve care through effective use of data, with support from professional networks. However, all new models must be developed in partnership with experts-by-experience, carers, and community and voluntary organisations. Systemic investment in services and the staff who provide them is needed to meet the ambitions set by governments.