Thursday, May 30, 2013

Care inquiry focuses on the importance of #relationships for #children and young people.





Care inquiry focuses on the importance of ‘relationships’ for children and young people


Eight leading children’s charities have undertaken an inquiry in order to investigate the best way in which vulnerable children who are unable to live with their parents, can be provided with permanent and stable homes. Recently there has been a common concern that Government’s focus on increasing the number of adoptions from children in care is lessening the importance of other options for permanence.


The inquiry found that “the relationships with people who care for and about children are the golden thread in children’s lives and that the quality of a child’s relationship is the lens through which we should view what we do and what we plan to do.” The inquiry has made recommendations which are consistent with this newfound ‘relationship’ approach and are in line with the principles of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Human Rights Act. The recommendations revolve around children’s increased participation within the system and call for a re-focus on the best interests of the child.


The report states that social workers and carers should speak to children about their culture and identity in order to understand their views so that social workers can take this into account when finding them a home. Additionally, local authorities should be required to consider the suitability of the match between the social worker and the child when assigning a social worker to a child in care, giving serious regard to a request made by the child for a different social worker. Children should also be provided with information about the family and home before any new placement.


The inquiry recommends that professionals working with children should take into account the people who are important to the child in order to encourage and strengthen the relationships that the child considers significant. Children and young people’s views should always be taken into account when decisions are being made about where they are going to live and with whom.


According to the inquiry, if this new approach is adopted in the process of placing children, then it is likely that children in need can stay at home. Those who are not able to do so can be supported to maintain permanent relationships with those who are important to them and who care for them.