by Styliana Pasiardi, Charity Policy and Campaigns Manager
Strong relationships help children feel safe, supported and connected. Yet many children in care experience instability that disrupts these important connections.
The Together Trust welcomes the publication of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Care-Experienced Children and Young People’s inquiry report, How does the care system protect and support children’s relationships?
The inquiry received evidence from 220 organisations and individuals, including more than 170 care-experienced children and young people. Back in June, I was pleased to give oral evidence to the inquiryon supported accommodation and submit written evidence on illegal and unregistered children’s homes.
Also, last week, I was also grateful to attend the parliamentary launch of the report. Hearing directly from care-experienced young people brought the findings to life and reinforced why relationships, stability and belonging matter so much. It was also encouraging to hear contributions from APPG co-chairs Jess Asato MPand Darren Paffey MP, alongside staff from Become, and to connect with professionals across the sector who are committed to improving outcomes for children in care.
The report comes at an important time as the government develops its Enduring Relationships strategy and wider reforms to children’s social care.
Keeping children connected to the people who matter
The inquiry found that many children in care experience repeated disruption during childhood.
Children may move between homes, schools and communities. They may be separated from siblings, family members and friends. Changes in carers and professionals can also make it harder to build trusting, long-term relationships.
For some children, this means losing contact with the people who know them best and provide consistent support.
The inquiry highlights the need for the care system to do more than keep children safe. It should also help children maintain and strengthen the relationships that are important to them.
Why relationships still matter at 16 and 17
The report raises concerns about some children’s experiences in supported accommodation, including issues highlighted by Together Trust during the inquiry process.
Supported accommodation is intended to help 16 and 17-year-olds prepare for adulthood. However, unlike children’s homes, there is no requirement to provide care around the clock. This can limit opportunities for young people to build strong relationships with trusted adults.
Evidence presented to the inquiry showed that children in supported accommodation are more likely to lack a trusted adult in their lives. The inquiry also heard concerns that some young people are moving into supported accommodation before they are ready, or when the setting cannot fully meet their emotional and relational needs.
At Together Trust, we believe there are structural limitations within supported accommodation that make it difficult to consistently provide the stable, caring relationships children need.
Children do not stop needing care when they turn 16, or even when they turn 18. Age alone is not a measure of readiness for adulthood. While developing independence is important, children in care also need trusted adults, strong relationships and ongoing care as they move into adulthood.
Styliana Pasiardi, Charity Policy and Campaigns Manager
The importance of the right home, in the right place
The inquiry also examined the growing use of illegal / unregistered children’s homes. This is one consequence of the wider shortage of suitable placements for children in care.
When there are not enough appropriate homes available, children can be placed far from their communities or in settings that do not meet their needs. Children with the most complex needs can be particularly affected.
Recommendations for change
The report calls for stronger accountability to ensure local authorities are planning for the homes children need, including:
- Ensuring care plans are written with children
- Boosting number of foster and residential homes
- Strengthen standards, training and qualifications for professionals and foster carers, so keeping children’s relationships is core practice
- Expanding access to mentors, Independent Visitors and family-finding services.
- Helping children build new social networks when they do move
- Ensuring every child in care has the support to understand healthy relationships and recognise unsafe dynamics
- Launching a national register of foster carers to improve matching children with carers close by
- Improving data on placement instability and relationship disruption.
Together Trust welcomes these recommendations. However, we believe the Government should go further to ensure every child in care receives care until at least 18 years of age, and introduce a clear, time-bound plan to end the use of illegal children’s homes.
Closing thoughts
We welcome the Government’s commitment to strengthening support for enduring relationships.
As children’s social care reforms move forward, relationships must be seen as a core part of good care. Children deserve the opportunity to maintain relationships with the people who matter to them.
The APPG’s report provides a strong foundation for achieving that goal. We now hope the Government responds with action that matches the strength of the evidence and delivers the changes children have said they need.
We cannot look away
The system should help children build safe, stable and loving relationships. Illegal placements do the opposite, leaving some children isolated from support and exposed to unacceptable risks.
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