09.10.2006
4Children’s response to Green Paper on Children in Care
4Children today welcomes the launch of the Government’s Green Paper on Children in Care, “Care Matters: Transforming the Lives of Children and Young People in Care”, as a responsible framework that has the potential to raise expectations and offer real improvements in life chances for looked-after children.
Commenting, Anne Longfield, Chief Executive of 4Children, said:
“For too long the most vulnerable children have been let down by the care they have received from the system. Statistics show the shocking reality for so many children in care currently with a deficit of outcomes in every area of life.
‘Care Matters’ offers a new approach which has the potential to offer joined-up thinking and planning for children. A first step towards ensuring that children have the kind of opportunities everyone would want for all children is to bring new responsibilities to local authorities to create joined-up plans and arrangements for children both in and out of school. Linking social workers more overtly into the broader children’s service system will also bring major benefits.
It is, however, in the area of proposed support to prevent children going into care that 4Children believes there are most opportunities for change. Providing intense support to parents and children at this crucial time can provide the help and framework families need to turn the corner. Linking into ongoing family support through newly-created Children’s Centres and Extended Schools can provide the longer-term support families require and access to specialist help if needed.”
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