Policy Hub
On 20 April 2009, the Children, Schools and Families Select Committee, published a report (Looked-after children) which warns that the state fails as a parent because the government is too timid in demanding that health services and the criminal justice and asylum systems give special consideration to looked-after children.
The report argues that children currently and formerly in care are not adequately protected from the risks of offending, sexual exploitation or homelessness. In addition, the provision of therapeutic services is deemed to be inadequate.
The report finds that luck plays too big a part in determining a child’s experience of the care system because of inconsistencies in quality. Children’s satisfaction with their lives in care should be at the heart of everything including quality assessment and inspection.
The report also says that social workers and foster carers need to have the right backing to respond to children’s needs in a more ‘parent-like’ way. These parts of the workforce have the greatest influence over a child’s day-to-day happiness but are often undervalued and overburdened.
Finally, the report highlights concerns that the care system's poor reputation may contribute to a reluctance to take children into care when necessary. Reform of the system must go hand in hand with more effective early intervention to reduce the potential for misery in children’s lives. Targeting resources at child protection should not happen at the expense of services which bring about positive change in families.
Looked-after children: volume 1 – report together with formal minutes (PDF)