By Sheila Mckenzie-
An online campaign for an independent review of England’s public care system is gathering pace following a joint letter to the secretary of state for education from those with relevant personal experience was sparked by child counsellor John Radoux who spent his childhood in care and then worked in children’s homes for 16 years.
Radoux told The Eye Of Media.Com: There is so much that needs to be addressed in the care system . Children are being increasingly sent many miles from their families, friends, schools and neighbourhoods.
In December, the Children’s Commissioner’s office published a report based on data analysis and conversations with children in homes around England and found most children in the care system were complaining about practitioners lack of commitment to them.
They rarely visited and made empty promises they knew they could not keep. It was frustrating for children who can hardly ever get hold of them.
“Many children were subjected to unknown duty social workers , instead of the allocated social worker, which added to children’s feelings of being ‘dumped’ and forgotten about,” the report said.
However, the Commissioner’s report states that there are several justified reasons for moving children in care far from home. In some cases it is to keep such children safe from criminal gangs or sexual predators who pose a serious threat to them. Other times, it is simply because there is nowhere suitable for them to live locally
DISTANCE
The report added that many children placed at significant distance from their homes found it hard to get help from independent reviewing officers (IROs), and other advocates with responsibilities for upholding their views.
Instability and high numbers of moves, including growing reliance on unregulated homes were highlighted as some of the flaws in the system. It also added the disproportionate numbers of child and adult prisoners who were formerly in care and private equity companies profiting from children’s need for state care and protection.
Government statistics published in December show that, for the first time, there are more children in care living in unregulated accommodation than in registered children’s homes within their own council area .
ADAPTATION
The query is in relation to children who have suffered often very serious har m must adapt to a whole new life – with strangers and separated from their family, friends and probably school – in an environment where not a single member of staff is permitted to care for them.
75% of children in the care system are the subject of care orders – where a family court has determined the child has suffered (or is likely to suffer) significant harm and grants the local authority parental responsibility.
A care order is the highest form of state protection given to children. Thirty years after it was passed, the Children Act 1989 is still hailed as world-class; however, our services fail to fit the legislation
Last December, Children’s Commissioner, Anne Longfield visited a girl in care on round the clock suicide watch, after being abused by grooming gangs.
Image: Children’s Commissioner.uk