This section reviews a range of government policy initiatives that have wide-ranging implications for health promotion with looked after children since the year 2000. For several years, there has been a series of government initiatives to raise awareness of the needs of looked after children to try and improve their outcomes. Legal framework within which local authorities work as providers of fostering services and children’s homes is provided through The legal framework of The Children Act 1989 and the Care Standards Act 2000 accompanied by regulations and statutory guidance enable local authorities to provide fostering services. Other Acts such as the Children (Leaving Care) Act 2000 and the Children Act 2004 also enhanced duties on local …show more content…
The expectation is for these children and young people to remain in care before progression to independence between 16 and 18 years of age, with the majority living independently in the community (Gibbs et al., 2005). As identified by Stein (2006), this vulnerable group of young people in need of care are required to head for early self reliance. Nearly 80,000 children in the UK live in public care with 62 % of these children taken into care due to abuse and neglect, and 70% living in foster family, while 11% is accommodated in residential care (Vostanis, 2010). These children taken into care have health problems related to mental health or mental illness and account for 10% of population diagnosed with a mental illness in the UK (Golding, 2010). Golding (2010) points out that about 70% of the children looked after in the residential setting have a mental health problems, with nearly 50 % of those placed in foster family experiencing mental health problems. While looked after children are cared for in several placements, the majority are cared for in foster homes, with one in six of these placed with family or friends (DCSF 2008). Foster families account for 71% of approximately 80,000 of children looked after and 11% for those in residential homes (McCauley & Davis,
If the local authority establishes that the child is a child in need or at risk of harm, it has a duty under section 47 of the Children Act (1989) to make a care plan or child protection plan to provide support which involves adequate supervision and checks to ensure that the child is no longer at risk. The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989) promotes empowerment for children as they can exercise their right to express their views and be heard and their best interest would be at the centre of the intervention and social workers need to ensure that decisions made are not affected by the influence from family or professionals they work with (Lee & Hudson,
In this essay, the researcher will explore what a ‘looked after child’ is and the current system for LAC in the UK. This includes legislation, Policy and, statistics on LAC in the UK. As well as, this essay will include why children looked after by the local authority, why do they end up with the local authority, the impact of child abuse and neglect on children, young people and their families, and lastly other issues/perceptions surrounded around children and young people who are ‘looked after’.
This paper will contain research done about foster care, including a brief history and progressing along to the system today. This research interested me because it is a professional career option after graduation. I found both positives and negatives about the foster care system that children and foster parents go through on a daily basis. As the paper progresses I will be explaining these positives and negatives in more detail. Throughout the paper I will be referencing different scholarly sources that explain foster care in different ways. Overall, this paper will show different aspects that the general public may never know about foster care.
There is nearly 400,000 children in out-of-home care in the United States right now (Children’s Right). Just about every day children are being shipped in and out of foster homes and group homes. Most people want the best for children in foster care and decide to take care of them until their parents can possibly recover. The foster care system can have both a negative or positive effect on children, foster parents, and biological parents because of the gaps in the system. Foster cannot not be avoided but the some aspects of the foster care system can be avoided if the missing gaps were filled.
Despite attempts in the foster care system agencies under the guidelines of the “Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997” (ASFA) to locate suitable homes and families for foster children, many remain in foster care. “Too often, Child Welfare policy and the agencies responsible for it – offices that respond to child abuse and neglect, oversee foster care placements, and seek to reunite children with their parents to find adoptive families- are out of sight and out of mind except for fleeting moments of tragedy, such as a child’s death”.
The majority of children who would otherwise need foster care are in kinship care, which
Government statistics, newspaper articles, and thorough research projects have been completed to answer the question, “is there a problem in the foster care system?” The results have revealed that a serious problem exist within foster care in the United States. At any given time there are approximately 542,000 children in the foster care system (Dept of Health). This number continues to rise each year. In 2001, 290,000 children entered into foster care, while only 263,000 children left the system (Dept of Health). Of the 263,000 children that left foster care in the year 2001, 31% were in care for over two years (Dept of Health). Nineteen percent of those children were in foster care for one to two years (Dept of Health). Two years is an unacceptable amount of time when taken into consideration that between the ages of 8 and ten are critical developmental years in a child’s life. The average age of the a child leaving the foster care system in 2001 was 10.2 years old (Dept of Health). The amount of children per foster home at any given time is another problem. The average number of children per home in the foster care system is 3.7, which is up from 1.4 in 1983. Although 3.7 children is an average per home, there are claims that tens of thousands of homes have 5 – 8 children at once (C...
In brain science today, there are four noteworthy perceived child rearing styles: legitimate, careless, lenient, and tyrant. Every one conveys diverse qualities and realizes distinctive responses in the kids which they are utilized on. It is essential to remember that each guardian tyke relationship is diverse, so there is not one beyond any doubt fire approach to child rearing. Analysts have found four sorts of child rearing styles. Actually, research has uncovered that child rearing styles can impact a tyke 's social, cognitive, and mental development, which influences kids both in the adolescence years, and as a grown-up. This is on account of kids growing through various jolts, connection, and trade, which encompass them. The way that folks
What is childhood? To some its the upbringing and quality of life given to the child within the first several years of the child's life. In its simplest form, childhood is classified as the age span which ranges from birth to adolescence. During those years of childhood, most children go through various different physical and cognitive changes. According to the famous cognitive developmental theorist Jean Piaget, in psychology, childhood consists of four separate stages of development. Those stages are sensorimotor, pre-operational, concrete operational, and formal operational stages. The sensorimotor stage extends from both to when the child first starts to grasp the concept of language. In the pre-operational stage is when the child starts
The update of 2006 report included statements from Lord Laming’s report. The protection of Children in England: A Progress Report on March 2009. It was revised to follow progress in legislation, scheme and tradition related to the safety of children. Harbouring children from misfortune and raise their well-being under this act bank on a mutual trust and useful functioning ties between different organisations.
Commission for Social Care Inspection (2005) Making Every Child Matter, Commission for Social Care Inspection
Since the beginning of time, fathers have had a profound effect on their child’s development. Over the years, the norm for traditional family dynamics of having a father figure in the household has changed drastically, and so did the roles of the parents. It is not as common as it used to be to have a father or father figure in the home. In this day and age, women are more likely to raise children on their own and gain independence without the male assistance due to various reasons. The most significant learning experience and development of a person’s life takes place in their earlier years when they were children. There are many advantages when there is a mother and father combined in a
Child neglect is the most common form of maltreatment towards children, which may lead to various short- and long-term physical, psychological and social consequences. It is known to coincide with other forms of abuse and difficulties. Infants and toddlers are often the main victims of neglect.
Children’s development in all aspects are influenced by genetic composition (Nature) and the environment in which they grow (Nurture). They are influenced by all adults in which they come into significant contact. Smiling at someone unfamiliar or speaking to a stranger is less likely to have a lasting impact on the child or their development. However, parents and immediate family have the most impact on a child’s development. A family is defined as at least one adult and one child who live together and in which the adult is control of the child’s life and behavior as well as demonstrates responsible care for the child (McDevitt & Ormand, 2013). Parents are the primary educators and caregivers,
Social work has many areas of study. The area of study this paper is going to focus on is child welfare. Child welfare is essential in empowering children and families by trying to keep them together in a safe and healthy environment. The writer feels that child welfare can be helpful when it comes to children’s well-being even though child welfare has been questioned by many. In this paper the writer will discuss the historical background on child welfare, and its relevance to social welfare. Adoption, foster care, abuse and neglect will be discussed in this paper as they make up child welfare. The current perspective of child welfare that was collected from the sources will be touched on as well as the social and political responses to this