Being in care
Every child or young person who enters the care system is unique and has different needs.
The care system – specifically, the people who work in that system and provide care - have the power to change a child’s life for the better, giving them safety, security and opportunities they would not otherwise have had. For many, care does exactly that. However, too many children and young people describe growing up within a system that they see as inflexible, bureaucratic and lacking in ‘care’ itself. They can feel as though their own wishes and feelings are not taken into account, and may be moved from placement to placement with little notice.
Confidence and trust in adults can be severely damaged by poor communication and constant change. Their feelings of rejection at the loss of their birth family can be compounded when placements come to an end, or social workers move job.
There are several types of placement which children and young people might experience while under the care of a local authority. It is really important that children and young people’s views about the type of placement, who they live with and where they live are taken into account.
The main placement types are explored below.
The care system – specifically, the people who work in that system and provide care - have the power to change a child’s life for the better, giving them safety, security and opportunities they would not otherwise have had. For many, care does exactly that. However, too many children and young people describe growing up within a system that they see as inflexible, bureaucratic and lacking in ‘care’ itself. They can feel as though their own wishes and feelings are not taken into account, and may be moved from placement to placement with little notice.
Confidence and trust in adults can be severely damaged by poor communication and constant change. Their feelings of rejection at the loss of their birth family can be compounded when placements come to an end, or social workers move job.
There are several types of placement which children and young people might experience while under the care of a local authority. It is really important that children and young people’s views about the type of placement, who they live with and where they live are taken into account.
The main placement types are explored below.
The majority of children in care are looked after by carers, who receive an allowance for each child they look after from the local authority, either directly or through a fostering agency.
The allowance is to cover the cost of caring for the child, such as buying food and clothes. Some fostering services pay a fee to the carer on top of the allowance. Some foster carers may welcome children into their family, alongside children of their own, or they may foster a number of children at once. Other foster carers may be single. The important thing is that a foster home should provide stability, emotional support and a loving family environment, as well as the practical day-to-day care needed by children and young people.
Foster placements can last for days, weeks, months or even years. Positive, stable placements can be life- changing for a child and enable them to have the childhood that they had been denied before. Many foster children feel like part of the family they live with and form relationships that last years beyond the end of their formal placement. However, some children report feeling as though their foster carers are only ‘in it for the money’. Sometimes they feel that they are treated differently to the foster family’s biological children, and are not made to feel welcome at home.
There is a national shortage of foster carers. Foster placements for disabled children, teenagers, sibling groups and unaccompanied asylum-seeking children are particularly challenging to secure. The shortage means that children can be placed far away from existing/birth family and friends, meaning they might have to move school; some may be placed apart from their brothers or sisters, or with foster carers who are not equipped to meet their specific needs. The risk of the placement breaking down is then significantly increased.
The allowance is to cover the cost of caring for the child, such as buying food and clothes. Some fostering services pay a fee to the carer on top of the allowance. Some foster carers may welcome children into their family, alongside children of their own, or they may foster a number of children at once. Other foster carers may be single. The important thing is that a foster home should provide stability, emotional support and a loving family environment, as well as the practical day-to-day care needed by children and young people.
Foster placements can last for days, weeks, months or even years. Positive, stable placements can be life- changing for a child and enable them to have the childhood that they had been denied before. Many foster children feel like part of the family they live with and form relationships that last years beyond the end of their formal placement. However, some children report feeling as though their foster carers are only ‘in it for the money’. Sometimes they feel that they are treated differently to the foster family’s biological children, and are not made to feel welcome at home.
There is a national shortage of foster carers. Foster placements for disabled children, teenagers, sibling groups and unaccompanied asylum-seeking children are particularly challenging to secure. The shortage means that children can be placed far away from existing/birth family and friends, meaning they might have to move school; some may be placed apart from their brothers or sisters, or with foster carers who are not equipped to meet their specific needs. The risk of the placement breaking down is then significantly increased.
In kinship care, someone who has close ties and is already known to the child is given the role of foster carer by the local authority when the child’s birth parents are unable to care for them.
Some people call this ‘family and friends care’ to ensure that those without a biological connection to the child are not excluded from the definition.
There are lots of benefits for children and young people of being looked after in kinship care. Living with a close relative or family friend is likely to offer a more stable and loving home than some other forms of care, with people whom the child or young person can hope to have a long term relationship. Kinship care builds on existing family links, which might include keeping in contact with birth parents when this is possible.
When formalised, kinship care sees the local authority retain responsibility for the child (as they do with foster carers who are not related to the child). Kinship carers are entitled to receive maintenance payments from the local authority and some benefits. The child or young person should receive the same welfare support from children’s services as any other fostered child.
However, when going through difficult times, it is thought that many families may undertake this kind of arrangement without the knowledge of the local authority. This is called a ‘private arrangement’. It’s therefore hard to know exactly how many children are looked after in this way.
Some people call this ‘family and friends care’ to ensure that those without a biological connection to the child are not excluded from the definition.
There are lots of benefits for children and young people of being looked after in kinship care. Living with a close relative or family friend is likely to offer a more stable and loving home than some other forms of care, with people whom the child or young person can hope to have a long term relationship. Kinship care builds on existing family links, which might include keeping in contact with birth parents when this is possible.
When formalised, kinship care sees the local authority retain responsibility for the child (as they do with foster carers who are not related to the child). Kinship carers are entitled to receive maintenance payments from the local authority and some benefits. The child or young person should receive the same welfare support from children’s services as any other fostered child.
However, when going through difficult times, it is thought that many families may undertake this kind of arrangement without the knowledge of the local authority. This is called a ‘private arrangement’. It’s therefore hard to know exactly how many children are looked after in this way.
Anyone who is not the child’s grandparent, step-parent, sibling, uncle or aunt is not considered to be a close relative.
It is a legal requirement for all parents and private foster carers to notify the local authority of their private fostering arrangement. This is to ensure children and young people are kept safe and that private foster carers receive any support they are entitled to.
It is a legal requirement for all parents and private foster carers to notify the local authority of their private fostering arrangement. This is to ensure children and young people are kept safe and that private foster carers receive any support they are entitled to.
Many children’s homes are located in residential streets among ordinary family houses.
Homes are staffed by a team of residential workers employed by the local authority, or by companies or charities which run homes. Staff may live on site or work shifts, ensuring that there is always someone on hand.
Children who are over 14 or who have a high level of need due to mental health problems or behavioural issues are the most likely to be placed in residential care. Sometimes, older children or young people taken into care prefer not to be placed in a family; they may have a continuing relationship with their birth family, or would prefer a different environment due to the problems they have faced before. Some residential care settings can offer a more highly intensive therapeutic environment, with staff who are trained in supporting children and young people to deal with their experiences of trauma or abuse.
Residential care is more expensive than foster care. Unfortunately, for this reason, local authorities managing shrinking budgets can be reluctant to place children in residential care, even when it could be the most suitable setting for them.
Many children who spend time in residential care will have lived in a number of foster homes beforehand. Placements may have ended because the child has felt unhappy or because the foster carers have been unable to cope with his or her behaviour. Repeated placement breakdown can add to a child’s distress, causing feelings of rejection, loss of self-confidence and lack of trust in adults.
Homes are staffed by a team of residential workers employed by the local authority, or by companies or charities which run homes. Staff may live on site or work shifts, ensuring that there is always someone on hand.
Children who are over 14 or who have a high level of need due to mental health problems or behavioural issues are the most likely to be placed in residential care. Sometimes, older children or young people taken into care prefer not to be placed in a family; they may have a continuing relationship with their birth family, or would prefer a different environment due to the problems they have faced before. Some residential care settings can offer a more highly intensive therapeutic environment, with staff who are trained in supporting children and young people to deal with their experiences of trauma or abuse.
Residential care is more expensive than foster care. Unfortunately, for this reason, local authorities managing shrinking budgets can be reluctant to place children in residential care, even when it could be the most suitable setting for them.
Many children who spend time in residential care will have lived in a number of foster homes beforehand. Placements may have ended because the child has felt unhappy or because the foster carers have been unable to cope with his or her behaviour. Repeated placement breakdown can add to a child’s distress, causing feelings of rejection, loss of self-confidence and lack of trust in adults.
For looked after children or young people who regularly run away from placements, and who face the risk of harm (for instance, through child sexual exploitation) if they do run away, or whose distress causes them to injure themselves or others, a decision to place them in secure care can be made on welfare grounds.
Secure care homes offer very high staff to child ratios and can offer intensive support to young people. The staff can stop the young person from leaving the home, with the aim of keeping them safe.
Children who are over 14 or who have a high level of need due to mental health problems or behavioural issues are the most likely to be placed in residential care. Sometimes, older children or young people taken into care prefer not to be placed in a family; they may have a continuing relationship with their birth family, or would prefer a different environment due to the problems they have faced before. Some residential care settings can offer a more highly intensive therapeutic environment, with staff who are trained in supporting children and young people to deal with their experiences of trauma or abuse.
Secure care homes offer very high staff to child ratios and can offer intensive support to young people. The staff can stop the young person from leaving the home, with the aim of keeping them safe.
Children who are over 14 or who have a high level of need due to mental health problems or behavioural issues are the most likely to be placed in residential care. Sometimes, older children or young people taken into care prefer not to be placed in a family; they may have a continuing relationship with their birth family, or would prefer a different environment due to the problems they have faced before. Some residential care settings can offer a more highly intensive therapeutic environment, with staff who are trained in supporting children and young people to deal with their experiences of trauma or abuse.