“I grew up in care alone – why did no-one tell me I had siblings?”

This story of sibling separation from Ashley John-Baptiste in this BBC documentary article is not unusual. As a social worker I once identified a sister who shared the same mother for twins who had been in our care for years. The importance of properly researching genograms (family trees) and chronologies, really understanding peoples lives by getting … Read more

recent news

A summary of recent research reports and articles affecting the residential sector. This month we include a variety of links and articles on subjects such as: Top tips on applying to register a children’s home, Ofsted’s response to the Case for Change, TACT’s report and suggestion for a new national care service, NICE guidance- Diversity … Read more

nice draft guidance, article three

diversity Within the current draft NICE guidance for ‘Looked after young people’, on the subject of diversity the guidance gives only one recommendation: ‘Ensure that looked-after children and young people from groups that have particular needs are not marginalised and that their needs are adequately met. These groups include those from black, Asian, and other … Read more

unregulated provision ban- bespoke placements will be ‘considerably harder’

high court judge authorises unregulated placement for 15 year old girl With the ban on unregulated placements coming into force this month, a high court ruling has made the changing landscape even more confusing. High Court Judge, Mrs Justice Knowles, authorised an unregulated placement for a 15 year old girl who was experiencing significant ”psychological … Read more

support for care leavers- research

”Young people who ‘age-out’ of out-of-home care face increased risks of poor outcomes, including homelessness, unemployment and substance abuse” Around 10,000 young people in England age out of the care system every year on their 18th birthday. With care leavers making up 25% of the homeless population. Almost 25% of the adult prison population have … Read more