Care Matters white paper

The Care Matters white paper outlines the government’s plans for improving the prospects of children in care, building upon responses to the consultation on last year's green paper.

The Bryn Melyn Group leads discussion on the new Care Matters white paper.

Government response: DfES

Secretary of state for education Alan Johnson said: "For too long society has failed children in care and it is nothing less than a scandal. We should have the same aspirations for these children as we do our own.

"Improving the life chances of children in care must be a priority and I welcome the commitment made today by big business to play their part.

"With the renewed focus of government, the support of those who already work so hard to help these vulnerable children and the backing of the business world we should be able to make a real difference to those who have too often suffered."

Children’s minister Beverley Hughes added: "ere is a significant gap between quality of life and future prospects of children in care and that of other children.

"Tackling this is going to take urgent, sustained action across central and local government, from practitioners in all aspects of children and young people’s lives and from their carers, friends and family.

"But the support we have had for this White Paper shows that there is an appetite and commitment for change and it is imperative that we work together to make this happen."

 

Party response: Liberal Democrats

Liberal Democrat children and families spokesman Annette Brooke said: "Providing a radically better service to looked-after children is absolutely essential to tackling social exclusion.

"The government has made some good recommendations but the test is whether they will be effectively implemented.

"Proposals to emphasise the importance of kinship care are a definite step in the right direction but key details such as how much kinship carers will be paid still remain unanswered.

"Absolutely critical to the success of these policies will be recruitment, retention, and training of foster carers and social workers. Can the current situation be improved without diverting resources from other important areas of social work?

"Extra resources for looked-after children outside school is welcome but it is disappointing that the scheme which provided children in foster care with their own computer hasn’t been reinstated."

 

Stakeholder response: The Bryn Melyn Group Foundation

To send a comment to the Bryn Melyn Group Foundation, click here

The Bryn Melyn Group Foundation told ePolitix.com: "Time for Change fully strengthens the aspiration and breadth of vision expressed in the green paper Care Matters.

"There can be no doubt that government is serious not just about acknowledging the ‘catastrophic’ failure over many years of a system designed to protect our most vulnerable children but is willing and ready to make some radical changes to do something about it.

"There is a sense that stakeholders have been properly heard through the consultation process, with the voices of young people themselves coming through strongly.

"We are particularly pleased that the complex, enduring and fluctuating needs of youngsters in the process of leaving care and moving towards independent adulthood  have been fully understood.

"Not only have the vital practical areas of continuing education, employment and housing been addressed, the central importance of continued stability in relationships with key adults and continuity of care beyond 18 will be supported and provided for within the legislative framework being proposed.

"For all those of us that have campaigning long and hard on this key issue of slower and less forced transitions, the thinking and proposals are very welcome.

"The framework is one thing however, there is now a huge amount of work to be done to make all that we would wish for children in and leaving care reality and the responsibility now falls jointly on all of those designing, delivering and commissioning services to work together and create those brighter futures."

 

Stakeholder response: ATL

To send a comment to ATL, click here

General secretary Dr Mary Bousted said: "The government is right to prioritise children in care because as a group they do very poorly in education and exams. 

"ATL supports the plan to require every school to give a member of staff responsibility for the educational progress of these youngsters. We agree that schools should play a greater role in the personal education plan of each child in care.

"However, there is a problem - schools have a priority overload from government.  If the government wants children in care to be the priority, it will need to advise schools on which other priorities they will be allowed to downgrade."

 

Stakeholder response: GSCC

To send a comment to GSCC, click here

Chief executive Lynne Berry said: "I very much welcome the ambitions of this white paper.

"Its intention is to ensure children and young people who experience the care system have better futures, greater stability and more support.

"The social care sector needs to do things better and in new ways, so that children and young peoples’ voices are at the heart of its reforms.

"I particularly welcome the recognition of social workers’ passion and commitment, and the crucial role they can play in delivering stability and support.

"The GSCC looks forward to working with the Children’s Workforce Development Council on the development of pilots to support new ways of working.

"Social workers should be freed up to take on more responsibility.

"'Care Matters: Time for change'  encourages them to use their expertise on the front line. 

"I am glad to see its emphasis on children and young people being firmly linked to their communities. Who better than social workers to make those links, grounded as they are in these communities."