Industry News: Alliance relaunches new vision for the care system ahead of Children and Social Work Bill debate

The Alliance for Children in Care and Care Leavers is calling for changes to the care system ahead of the House of Lords debate on the Children and Social Care Bill taking place on 14th June 2016.

The Alliance for Children in Care and Care Leavers’ ‘A New Vision’ calls for a clearer framework on what care should be aiming for, and for the gaps in the system to be addressed. The care system must promote resilience and emotional wellbeing by helping children and young people to recover from past harm.

Emma Smale of Action for Children and Co-Chair of the Alliance for Children in Care and Care Leavers said: “We know that care needs to meet the day to day emotional needs of children and that they must have consistent access to mental health support. We welcome the corporate parenting principles laid out in the Bill but they must be strengthened to promote recovery from past harm. 

“What’s more, support should continue even after a young person has left care. The Bill rightly does take account of the needs of care leavers and the Alliance has long called for personal advisers to be made available to every leaver up to the age of 25. However, the Government must ensure that this offer is accompanied by sufficient provision of wider services and accommodation.”

Enver Solomon of NCB and Co-Chair of the Alliance for Children in Care and Care Leavers said: “Looked after children are four times more likely to experience mental health issues than children in the general population. Yet they are still struggling to access the support needed for them to recover from the trauma of abuse and neglect.

“The Alliance is calling on the Government to deliver this by extending corporate parenting responsibilities to health bodies and introducing champions into these settings who would have a similar role to Virtual School Heads in education.”

Click here to download a PDF of The Alliance for Children in Care and Care Leavers’ ‘A New Vision’ or visit www.actionforchildren.org.uk/allianceforchildren.

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