Half of all children in care leave school with *no* standard grades

[Miaou]

Finally, finally, there seems to be some sort of desire to do something about this.

I find this so shocking and yet not surprising .

link here

Mirrors what we see in England Miaou

What is so sad is that kids in care don't seem to have much if any continuety, and get moved so often, it can't help them!

I have my serious concerns about children in care being moved so often, apparently not to become to attached to their carers but... it isn't emotional welfare about the ability to form attachments?

[tangencial thought to the central topic of this conversation]

That's right - it was on the local news here and one girl (who I guess was about 16) said she had been fostered by 7 different families . I mean, how does that equip these children for real life?

Dh and I have talked on and off for years about fostering, but now is not the right time (too many kids of our own ) and I think when the kids are older dh will be too old (he is nearly 45 now). But I honestly wouldn't want to be part of a system that makes a habit of moving kids around for no good reason.

That's exactly what I have heard, Chandra - I mean, wtf is that about? "Oh we are teaching you not to form emotional bonds with anyone as that will equip you better for adult life" errrr .... no

The constant moving is awful. you see some poor child, start to grow in confidence etc, behaviour and self esteme rises while they are with a good foster fmily, and then they get moved. Back to square 1 with the child even more damaged and hurt

I know a boy that's fostered (I remember when he was taken out of his family). In less than a year he had 3 new school uniforms. He moved from North to South London and then out to Kent. He came back to North London for 6 months (longest stay anywhere). Never in school... well he was given a daily allowance which enabled him to do what he wanted in the day. Last time I saw him he was off to Chelmsford.

Attachment? Poor boy... didn't have time to wipe his a*se before being moved again! Would foster him myself if they let me. Such a bright boy about to fall through the cracks and what's the point of that?

that is so sad, Marsy.

There's a disproportionate number of adults who grew up in care homes in the prison system too. They are seriously being failed by the system.

I co-edit a trade magazine on foster care. There are some patches of really good practice, but overall there's a complete crisis in finding enough people prepared to foster, and/or authorities taking on the issue properly. THere's a new green paper out which should help the situation to some degree - if it gets funding.

Why do they move them so much they must have a reason?

Placements fall through, for all sorts of reasons. It's not simply a case of 'they' (who?) moving the kids. Foster carers can decide they can't continue with a placement. A child may make an allegation. They may move out of the care system and back to their families.

i didnt knowo they had to move them regularly? That is appalling. My ex, from years ago, was with his foster parents for years, so may be this is a new trend.. I read the headlines recently of some article written by someone who had been in care generlaly saying it's better in care homes than with foster parents..

No they don't have to move regularly. Obviously, the best thing is one placement for as long as need be - and that may be for years.

miaou, the system, tries not to move childen around unfortunately not all placements work out for a number of reasons some children return home for a period of time only for that too to break down, There is no real age limit on being a foster carer and there is a real need for good dedicated and committed carers who do it because they want to care for a child and not for financial reward

Well that would certainly be the reason why we wanted to do it (ie because we want to help, not for the money!). We may look at it again in the future - though maybe we live in too remote a location for us to be considered, am not sure.

I thought I heard about a 6 month rule for small children... is it out of use or am I confused?

location should not prove to a problem, it is the quality of care that matters and your ability to meet the needs of a child that should be matched to you. At present I think a lack of carers means limited choice when looking to place a child and this ill-match of child and carers can cause problems in terms of carers feeling they have failed and in children being moved more than should be necessary.
It is also important to consider the past experiences of children in care and the finite resources available to provide the support and stability that many families take for granted

Thanks for that gothicmama. It's certainly something we will continue to consider

fab it is good to hear that someone is considering a very worthwhile and important thing,

There is a desperate shortage of foster carers, partly (so I'm told by social workers and foster parents) to do with low pay and partly to do with property prices - you have to have a spare bedroom to foster. It means kids from London are sent down to Margate because it's cheaper there. Only it's remote and depressed so many children don't want to be there and run away again. (Anyone from Margate, don't mean to knock it, but Isle of Thanet is quite cut off, long way from London, and economically deprived). Children have even been sent from London as far as Shrewsbury. Imagine what it does to an already vulnerable child to be sent so far from everything and everyone they know.

We fail these children, who have already been failed, so very badly. Imagine being moved with no notice - a social worker turning up out of the blue when you get back from school and telling you you have to go with them now, leaving the school and what is effectively your home. Imagine that happening again and again.

The state makes a very bad corporate parent. The line is that girls in care end up as teenage mums, boys end up in prison. Or homeless, or mentally ill.

not all children in care do some go on to achieve, moves at short notice do happen, out of area moves are problematic because of teh added disruption and are also costly however sometimes they are necessary in order to keep a child safe or provide them with the best care. The state as corporate parent does fail but then as all of us can help influence the state through democratic process perhaps we should lobby for better corporate parenting from more suitable accommodation, better educational opportunities and to lessen the stigma faced by looked after children in society as a whole

I would love to foster. Have hankered after it for years. My problem... no space! Breaks my heart!

Hi all. My Dh and I have fostered for almost 20 years now and I would just like to add not all children in care get moved around and I don't know of a local authority nowadays that moves children so that attachments arent formed.

We have regularly cared for children for 3 or 4 years. They stay until a decision is made about their future either then returning home or being placed for adoption.

If anyone is considering fostering please don't let reports like this put you off.

Ps motherinferior can I ask what your magazine is called.

It's the main one that focuses on foster care. I'm sure you receive it!

Our neighbours have a similar experience to Flower's- they have a boy at the moment who came for 2 weeks- he's been with them 4 years so far and is set to stay until he's in his mid-teens. Their newest foster child is also staying long term. It's so wonderful when it works out. They have just won a battle to let their children go to the local school rather than the ones their birth parents choose- I know that sounds a bit disempowering, but it means that they can see them in and pick them up instead of having to stick them in taxis.

I only get the one from the FN, is that the one. You have to be a member to receive it I believe.