Looked-after children feel powerless over their care

http://www.cypnow.co.uk/Social_Care/article/1073263/looked-after-children-feel-powerless-care/?DCMP=EMC-CONCYPNow%20Daily

Looked-after children feel powerless over their care

By Lauren Higgs Thursday, 02 June 2011

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More than half of looked-after children think their feelings and wishes make no difference to the decisions made about their care, a report by the children's rights director has found.

Morgan: report reveals 'worrying concerns'

The Messages for Munro report, which fed into the Munro review of the child protection system published last month, sets out the views of 179 looked-after children and young people and care leavers.

It found that only 50 per cent of looked-after children felt their social worker or caseworker took notice of their wishes and feelings.

This is despite the fact that children in care have a legal right to have their views taken into account when major decisions are made about their lives.

Under government regulations, social workers are expected to visit children alone as often as possible. However, only 42 per cent of looked-after children said their social workers see them on their own regularly and 15 per cent said they never talked to their workers on their own.

The report also found that children in care would like more support than they currently get, with 70 per cent saying they wanted to see their social workers more often than they did.

Almost a third of children said it was difficult to get in touch with workers, with 45 per cent saying they were usually or never able to get in touch with them.

One child said: "You need someone who is there when you need them."

Children’s rights director Dr Roger Morgan admitted the report reveals "worrying concerns" about the lack of influence children in care have over their lives.

"The building of trust and ensuring children are able to confide in their support workers are key to helping to protect children," he said.

"Social workers must do more to listen and take account of children’s views, which Professor Eileen Munro has championed as a key area in improving child protection.