The Fairer Fostering Partnership
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Introduction
    • How To Become A Member
    • Application Form
    • Our Terms of Reference
    • Our Constitution
    • Our Charter
  • Campaigns
    • #forchildrennotprofit
    • Brad Kella’s Fostering Journey | Foster Care Fortnight
    • Fostering Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children
    • Changes to Fostering in Wales
    • Beyond Language that Cares
    • Vision for Children in Foster Care
  • Member Agencies
  • News & Jobs
  • Useful Links
  • Contact Us

Industry News: Achieving emotional wellbeing for looked after children: a whole system approach

16/7/2015

 
Picture
What works in promoting good emotional wellbeing and mental health for children in care


Children in care are 4 times more likely to have a mental health problem than children living with their birth families. These mental health needs are often unmet, which increases children’s risk of a variety of poor outcomes including placement instability and poor educational attainment.

This report provides recommendations and evidence for how the care system can be changed to prioritise and achieve good emotional wellbeing for all looked after children and care leavers. It is part of our Impact and evidence series.

Authors: Louise Bazalgette, Tom Rahilly and Grace Trevelyan
Published: 2015

We worked with 4 local authorities in the UK to investigate how to redesign the care system to improve support for the emotional wellbeing of looked after children.

Our project involved asking children in care, care leavers, carers and professionals from health, social care and education services about their experience of the care system and what changes they would like to see.

Findings

  • The emotional wellbeing and mental health of looked after children should not be thought of as the responsibility of specialist mental health services. We need a whole system across social care and health that prioritises the emotional wellbeing of children in care and care leavers.
  • An estimated £6.4 million each year could be saved in the UK if children's mental health needs were met and as a result they stayed in a stable placement.
5 priorities for change

  • Embed an emphasis on emotional wellbeing throughout the system
    Professionals working in the care system need the skills and knowledge to understand how they can support the emotional wellbeing of looked after children and young people.
  • Take a proactive and preventative approach
    Support for looked after children should begin with a thorough assessment of their emotional and mental health needs.
  • Give children and young people voice and influence
    Looked after children and young people need more opportunities to identify what is important to them and influence their own care.
  • Support and sustain children’s relationships
    Children’s carers require training and support to be sensitive, understanding and resilient.
  • Support care leavers’ emotional needs
    Help young people identify and strengthen their support networks.

Download the full report at:

http://www.nspcc.org.uk/services-and-resources/research-and-resources/achieving-emotional-wellbeing-looked-after-children-whole-system-approach/




Comments are closed.

    RSS Feed

    News & Jobs

    News stories and job vacancies from our member agencies, the fostering sector and the world of child protection and safeguarding as a whole.

    Browse Categories

    All
    Action For Children
    All4U Fostering
    Barnardo's
    Break
    Community Care
    Community Foster Care
    EPIC Family CiC
    Fair Ways Fostering
    FFP News
    Fostering Families
    Fostering News
    FtSE Member News
    FtSE News
    Industry News
    Kasper Fostering
    Member Job Opportunity
    Member News
    New Routes Fostering
    Pact
    Safer Fostering
    St Christopher's
    Supported Fostering Services
    TACT
    Team Fostering
    The Caldecott Foundation
    The Children's Family Trust
    The Foster Care Charity
    Together Trust
    Young People At Heart

    Photo of small child looking at yellow flower - part of FtSE's branding
The Fairer Fostering Partnership
c/o TACT Fostering
Innovation House
PO Box 137
Blyth
NE24 9FJ
[email protected]
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Introduction
    • How To Become A Member
    • Application Form
    • Our Terms of Reference
    • Our Constitution
    • Our Charter
  • Campaigns
    • #forchildrennotprofit
    • Brad Kella’s Fostering Journey | Foster Care Fortnight
    • Fostering Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children
    • Changes to Fostering in Wales
    • Beyond Language that Cares
    • Vision for Children in Foster Care
  • Member Agencies
  • News & Jobs
  • Useful Links
  • Contact Us