This Natcen report summarises some key insights on children’s experiences with social care, which serves as a source of evidence for policymakers and practitioners working to support children.
The report highlights the experiences of children in the UK's social care system and reveals persistent challenges, prompting renewed calls for urgent reform. Despite pockets of innovation, the report paints a stark picture of a system struggling to provide adequate support for some of society's most vulnerable.
The report, drawing on extensive administrative data, underscores the vital role the care system plays as a lifeline for children whose families are unable to provide care. However, it also exposes systemic shortcomings that contribute to poor outcomes for many care-experienced children and young people.
The numbers of children in care remain stubbornly high across all four nations of the UK, highlighting a lack of progress in addressing the root causes of family breakdown. Shortages of foster carers and the escalating costs of residential care are placing immense pressure on the system, meaning the State cannot always provide the stability and nurturing environment these children desperately need.
The analysis of administrative data, which pulls from a wide range of public sector sources, provides a unique insight into the long-term trajectories of children within the care system. This data reveals concerning trends across key areas, including:
- Health: Data highlights potential disparities in healthcare access and outcomes for care-experienced children.
- Poverty and Inequality: The report underscores the link between care experience and increased vulnerability to poverty.
- Education: Analysis reveals challenges in educational attainment for children in care.
- Wellbeing: Data points to potential adverse impacts on the overall wellbeing of children within the system.