Looked After children can have ten social workers at a time and are often shipped to a new children’s home every year. But a new model being piloted - ‘Social Pedagogy’ – is claimed to give children stability and security. Martin Thomas reports.
Children who have spent time in the 'care system' often suffer reduced 'life chances'. Outcomes for Looked After children have been consistently poor for many decades - in academic achievement, employability, ability to establish and maintain close personal relationships and emotional stability.
A background in care is also increases your chances of being homeless, a patient in a psychiatric hospital, a user of services for substance abusers, a teenage parent or a prisoner.
Legislation has been put into place to improve post-care support, to train foster parents, give foster parents more support and to raise standards in residential care. But children’s homes are still accused of 'warehousing' – giving children a roof over their heads, food, heating and pocket money but giving indifferent care and moving children around unnecessarily. Despite a recent commitment to cut moves, Looked After children can still experience as many as six changes of residence in six years. Yes, children are sometimes moved because their behaviour is so challenging. But constant uprooting can damage children already injured by pre-care experiences.
Social pedagogy