SCIE media releases 2007
Support for stability: SCIE's response to Care Matters White Paper
21 June 2007
The Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) has welcomed the positive emphasis on stability in the Care Matters White Paper.
The measures reflect many of SCIE's recommendations drawn from work with care-experienced young people, parents, practitioners and researchers.
Chair of SCIE, Allan Bowman, welcomed the challenging political initiative of raising the national profile of the lives of children in care. Speaking about the paper, he said that care-experienced young people will particularly benefit from support after the age of 16 and more structured ways of participating in service development.
"Young people from care have told us that they want stability, to be listened to, taken seriously, involved fully in decisions about their lives, and helped to become independent adults. High-level support for young people during their transition to adulthood is vital to build the necessary resilience, self-esteem and empowerment to progress with confidence.
"Our work has shown that services are more likely to change and improve when children and young people are involved at every stage of planning and delivery. Given the right level of child-focussed support, young people can feel a sense of ownership, pride and responsibility over the services that affect their lives and others like them."
SCIE also welcomes the recognition of the potential benefits of care alternatives within a young person's family circle, but acknowledges that this can be a complicated process that requires careful planning and consideration.
Allan Bowman continued:
"For most care experienced young people, their
parents and families remain important figures in
their lives, and this needs to be respected. Research
into 'kinship care' has found many positive
outcomes, but this must be embedded in the policy
framework, addressed in social work training and
routinely considered as a realistic care alternative
that can prevent vulnerable children and young people
from entering local authority care. We would advocate
more research into this area, and will support the
development of evidence-based good practice."
The move to build on the National Minimum Standards for foster care is also recognised as an important step forward. Allan Bowman said:
"Foster carers need to be recognised for the professional, important and skilled role they play in the lives of young people. Training and standards will enhance their development. We look forward to working with DfES, young people's organisations, the Children's Workforce Development Council, the Association of Directors of Children's Services and Ofsted to take this further and support the implementation of the White Paper measures."
- Involving children and young people in developing social care
- Promoting resilience in fostered children and young people
- Fostering practice guide
- Care Matters Green Paper consultation response
- Supporting disabled parents and parents with additional support needs
- Parent-training/education programmes in the management of children with conduct disorders
Media contact
Annie Goss | Communications Officer | T: 020 7089 7117 | M: 07739 458 192 | Email: annie.goss@scie.org.uk
Notes to editors
About SCIE
- Chair of SCIE, Allan Bowman, is available for interview.
- The Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) aims to improve the experiences of social care service users by advancing and promoting knowledge about good practice. SCIE's resources bring together policy and research with the opinions of practitioners, service users and carers.
- SCIE is a registered charity that works in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. It covers the whole of social care including services for adults, children and families, stakeholder participation, people management, social work education, e-learning and the use of knowledge in social care.
- SCIE also runs Social Care Online - the most comprehensive database of social care information. For more information visit www.scie.org.uk
