Catch22’s National Leaving Care Benchmarking Forum has released the Care Leaver Local Offer Report and toolkit, to support local authorities in raising the standard of provision across the country. The thematic report looks at: health and wellbeing; relationships; education and training; employment; accommodation; participation in society; ‘other’ groups of care leavers; finance and format/development of […]
Access to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services
The Education Policy Institute (EPI) has published its Annual Report on access to child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS). The study examines access to specialist services, waiting times for treatment, and provision for the most vulnerable children in England, and is based on new data obtained through freedom of information (FOI) requests to mental […]
Meeting the Needs of BAME Children in Foster Care
Two articles this month examine the issue of the shortage of black, Asian or minority ethnic (BAME) foster carers: BBC analysis of Ofsted figures show that two-thirds of councils in England have a shortage of BAME foster carers. 23% of children in foster care in England at 31 March 2019 came from a BAME background. In […]
Shortage of foster carers from BAME backgrounds
The BBC reports that analysis of Ofsted statistics for 2018/19, looking at local authorities that provide fostering services in England, shows that 99 of the 146 local authorities that provide fostering services had a shortage or undersupply of foster carers from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds. Further details are available here > […]
Online resource for teenagers in care and care leavers
IMO is a voice for teenagers in care and for care leavers. It is somewhere you can share stories, experiences and achievements, get and give advice, and find loads of great free stuff! IMO was created by the Children’s Commissioner for England in collaboration with an advisory network of teens with care experience. If you […]
Fostering Siblings
By Martin Barrows My wife and I both come from large families. Between us we have 11 brothers and sisters. Many have their own children and grandchildren. Family get-togethers require regimental planning these days. Perhaps it should come as no surprise that much of our fostering lives over the past 10 years has revolved around […]
Voices writing competition
Coram Voice has launched a creative writing competition for children in care and care leavers who are 25 or under. The theme for Voices 2020 is ‘Dreams‘. The competition closes on 12 February 2020. Further details are available here > […]
Childline launch Calm Zone
Childline has launched Calm Zone – an online hub of calming techniques and resources for young people to help them feel better when they feel anxious, scared or sad. Further details are available here > […]
£45m announced for Adoption Support Fund in England
The Department for Education (DfE) has announced an additional £45 million for the Adoption Support Fund in England. The funding will help support new adoptive families and reduce the number of children waiting for a permanent home. More than £1 million will also go to help Regional Adoption Agencies and voluntary organisations run campaigns to find […]
Looked after children placed out of area in England
The Children’s Commissioner for England has published a report about looked after children who are living in placements outside of their local area. Findings include: over 30,000 (41% of) looked after children are living ‘out of area’ in England, and over 11,000 of these children are more than 20 miles from home. Recommendations include: the […]