Improving outcomes for Looked After children

Frances Webster

Skills Development Scotland

Looked After Children Statistics

Of the 14,060 Looked After children in Scotland in 2007:

41% Looked After away from home 12% in residential accommodation 89% in residential accommodation are 12 years or more 58% Looked After at home by parents or in kinship care 55% were male 45% were female 13% were 16 or over

Scotland’s vision

“Children who are looked after should have the same educational opportunities as all other children, including further and higher education , and access to other opportunities for development”

Guidance to the Children (Scotland) 1995 Act

Where are we now?

• More Choices, More Chances (2006)• Extraordinary Lives (2006)• Getting it Right for Every Child (2005)• A Curriculum for Excellence (2004)• Looked After Children and Young People: We Can and

Must Do Better (2007)• These are our Bairns (2008)• Forgotten Children (2004)• The Mental Health of Children and Young People: A

Framework for Promotion, Prevention and Care (2005)

The unacceptable facts (2007)

• 75% have no formal qualifications at all

• Less than 1% go to university

• 45% of young offenders have been in care, at some time.

• Between 20% and 50% of homeless people have been in care.

• 45% of LAC have a mental health disorder

“Corporate Parenthood”

Meaning, “the formal and local partnerships needed between all local authority departments, and associated agencies, who are responsible for working together to meet the needs of Looked After children.”

Looked After Children and Young People: We Can and Must Do Better, Scottish Executive, 2007

How to be a good corporate parent!

Through care and After care Forum

• The preparation of a looked after young person for when they cease to be looked after

• The provision of support, advice or assistance to a young person who has ceased to be looked after.

(whether accommodated or at home)

When it works…

• Accurate information about the number and location of looked after children

• Nominated keyworker

• Inter-agency working agreements

• Data sharing protocols

• Care leaving plans in place

• Pathway Assessment for planning the future

My Pathways

• Lifestyle

• Family and friends

• Health and well being

• Learning and Work

• Where I live

• Money

• Rights and legal issues

Hopes for the future

I’m really looking forward to it I’ve got a few worries Things are going to work out well If I work on things I’m going to get there I haven’t thought about it too much I’ll just have to see what happens Things are going to be awful If I get some help, things will be fine I’m not looking forward to the future I just don’t know

How will we know we’ve made a difference?

• When LAC find and sustain jobs or a places at college or university.

• Where staff have job satisfaction, feel confident and competent in their corporate parenting role.

• Where internal evaluation demonstrates that outcomes for LAC are improving

• When there is no know discernable difference between the educational, employment and other life outcomes of Looked After Children and those of their peers.

• When you listen to the views of Looked After Children and Young People, and when you can show that you have responded.

These are our bairns