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Li Jean-Luc Harris

Looked After Child

by Li Jean-Luc Harris | May 25, 2022 | 0 comments

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1 Everything You Need to Know About Looked After Children in the UK

Everything You Need to Know About Looked After Children in the UK

Looked after children are a vulnerable group in the UK who often face significant challenges. This blog post will cover everything you need to know about looked after children, including their definition, the reasons why they are looked after, the different types of care they receive, their rights, the challenges they face, the support services available to them, and their outcomes.

Definition of Looked After Children

In the UK, a child is considered to be “looked after” if they have been in the care of their local authority for more than 24 hours ¹. This term is often used interchangeably with “children in care,” which is a term that many children and young people prefer ¹.

Statistics on Looked After Children

The number of looked after children in the UK has been increasing over the past decade ¹. In 2022/23, there were approximately 107,000 looked after children in the UK ². This represents an 8% increase over the last five years ². In England, there were 83,840 looked after children on 31 March 2023 ³. This equates to about one child in every 140 ⁴. Interestingly, Wales has the highest rate of looked after children away from home in the UK at 116 per 10,000 of the under-18 population, while the rates in Northern Ireland and England are much lower at 92 per 10,000 and 70 per 10,000 respectively ⁵. It is important to consider these regional differences when examining the overall picture of looked after children in the UK.

When examining the demographics of looked after children, there is a notable disparity in the representation of Black children. While Black children make up 5% of the under-18 population in England, they constitute 7% of looked after children ⁶. This over-representation raises important questions about potential systemic biases within the care system and highlights the need for equitable care provision for all children, regardless of their ethnicity.

Reasons Why Children are Looked After

Children are taken into care for a variety of reasons, the most common being to protect a child from abuse or neglect ². Abuse can manifest in several forms, including:

Emotional abuse: This can involve shouting, belittling, bullying, and making the child feel unwanted or unsafe ⁸.
Physical abuse: This is often identified by bruising on a child or evidence of violent restraint ⁸.
Sexual abuse: This refers to any instance where a child is persuaded or coerced into sexual acts ⁸.

In addition to abuse, other reasons for children being looked after include:

Family dysfunction: This refers to situations where the parenting capacity is chronically inadequate ⁹.
Absent parenting: This occurs when there are no parents available to provide care for the child ⁹.
Family in acute stress: This involves families going through a temporary crisis that affects their ability to meet the child’s needs ⁹.
Disability or illness: This can relate to either the child’s or parent’s disability or illness ⁹.
Low income or socially unacceptable behavior: In some cases, these factors can contribute to a child being taken into care ⁹.

Types of Care for Looked After Children

Looked after children receive different types of care depending on their individual needs. The most common type of care is foster care, where children live with foster parents/carers ¹. Other types of care include:

Kinship foster care: Children live with friends or relatives who are approved foster carers by the local authority ¹.
Private kinship care: This is an arrangement made directly between the parent(s) and the relative, friend, or connected person, without the involvement of the local authority ¹.
Residential children’s homes: Children live in a residential setting with professional staff ¹. This type of care is often used for children with complex needs or challenging behavior that may be difficult to manage in a foster home ¹⁰.
Residential settings like schools, secure units, or semi-independent living accommodation: These settings provide specialized care for children with specific needs ¹.

Rights of Looked After Children

While looked after children have the same basic rights as all other children in the UK, they are also entitled to additional rights specifically designed to protect and support them in their unique circumstances ¹¹. These rights include the right to:

Be safe and protected from harm: Local authorities have a duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of looked after children ¹².
Have their views taken seriously: Children should be consulted about decisions that affect them, and their views should be given due weight ¹¹.
Be consulted about what is happening to them: Local authorities must involve children in care in decisions about their care, placement, and future ¹¹.
Have access to education and health care: Looked after children have the right to access appropriate education and healthcare services ¹².
Be supported to maintain contact with their family: Where appropriate, local authorities should facilitate contact between looked after children and their families ¹².
Access to financial support: Carers of looked after children can apply for Child Benefit, Child Tax Credit, and other benefits to help support the child’s needs ¹³.
A Personal Education Plan (PEP): Every looked after child should have a PEP, which is part of their care plan. This plan outlines their educational needs and how they will be met ¹⁴.

Challenges Faced by Looked After Children

Looked after children often face a range of challenges, including:

Emotional and psychological impacts of being separated from their birth families: This can lead to feelings of loss, grief, and insecurity ¹⁵.
Increased risk of engaging in offending behavior: Due to their experiences and vulnerabilities, looked after children may be more likely to engage in criminal activity. This can be influenced by factors such as trauma, instability, and lack of positive role models ¹⁵.
Academic failure and exclusion from school: Looked after children may experience disruptions in their education, leading to lower academic attainment and increased risk of exclusion ¹⁵.
Trauma, such as abuse or neglect: Many looked after children have experienced trauma, which can have long-lasting effects on their mental and emotional well-being ¹⁵.
Going missing from care: Looked after children, particularly those who have experienced exploitation or have unstable placements, are at a higher risk of going missing from care. This increases their vulnerability to further harm, such as abuse, grooming, and sexual exploitation ¹.
Difficulties in finding suitable placements: Local authorities face challenges in finding appropriate placements for all looked after children, particularly those with complex needs. This can be due to a shortage of placements, difficulties in recruiting foster carers, and the increasing number of children entering the care system ¹⁶.
Instability in the care system: A significant number of children are classified as ‘in need’ or ‘at risk’ and may move in and out of the care system. This instability can disrupt their lives and make it harder for them to access consistent support ¹⁷.

Support Services Available to Looked After Children

There are a number of support services available to looked after children in the UK. These services include:

Social workers: Social workers play a key role in assessing children’s needs, developing care plans, and providing support and guidance ¹¹.
Children’s officers: Some local authorities appoint children’s officers who are responsible for helping children understand their rights and advocate for their needs ¹¹.
Voluntary organisations: A range of voluntary organisations provide support and advocacy for looked after children and their families. These include organizations like Family Lives, which offers support on parenting and family life; Gingerbread, which provides advice and support to single parents; and Relate, which offers relationship support and help with family life and parenting ¹⁸.
Independent advocates: In formal legal proceedings, looked after children have the right to be represented by an independent advocate who can ensure their voice is heard ¹¹.
Personal advisers: The Children & Social Work Act 2017 introduced a duty on local authorities to provide Personal Adviser (PA) support to all care leavers up to age 25 ¹⁹. PAs help care leavers transition to adulthood and access support in areas such as housing, education, and employment.

Outcomes for Looked After Children

The outcomes for looked after children in the UK are generally poorer than for children who are not looked after. For example, looked after children are more likely to:

Have lower educational attainment: In 2019, only 37% of looked after children in England reached the expected standard for reading, writing, and mathematics at key stage 2, compared to 65% of non-looked after children ²⁰.
Be unemployed or not in education or training: 41% of 19–21-year-old care leavers are not in education, employment or training (NEET) ²¹.
Experience homelessness: Care leavers are significantly more likely to experience homelessness than their peers ²¹.
Be involved in the criminal justice system: A disproportionate number of prisoners have been through the care system ²¹.

However, it is important to note that many looked after children do achieve positive outcomes. With the right support, such as stable placements, access to education and healthcare, and ongoing support from carers and social workers, they can overcome the challenges they face and go on to lead successful lives ¹⁹.

The most common reasons for children and young people leaving care are:

Returning home to live with parents ⁹.
Remaining with their current carers at age 18 ⁹.
Moving into independent living with support ⁹.
Leaving care through a special guardianship order ⁹.
Being adopted ⁹.

Previously Looked-After Children

A “previously looked-after child” is a child who was previously in the care of their local authority but has since left the care system ²². This could be due to returning home, being adopted, or reaching the age of 18. While they are no longer “looked after,” these children may still be entitled to support from their local authority to help them transition to independence and achieve positive outcomes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Question	Answer
What does being a looked after child mean?	It means that a child is under the care of their local authority ²³.
Why am I looked after?	There are many reasons why a child might be looked after, but the most common is to protect them from harm ²³.
What are care proceedings?	Care proceedings are legal proceedings that take place when a local authority believes that a child is at risk of significant harm ²³.
What is a care order?	A care order is a legal order that gives the local authority parental responsibility for a child ²³.
What is a care plan?	A care plan is a document that sets out how a child’s needs will be met while they are looked after ²³.
Where will I live?	This will depend on your individual needs, but you might live with foster carers, with family members, or in a residential children’s home ²³.
Will I still see my family?	Yes, you should still be able to see your family, although this might be supervised or limited in some cases ²³.
Can I live in a different area?	This might be possible, but it will depend on your individual circumstances ²³.
Can I go home?	This will depend on whether it is safe for you to return home ²⁴.
What happens when I turn 18?	When you turn 18, you will no longer be ‘looked after’, but you may still be entitled to support from your local authority as a care leaver ¹⁹. This could include help with finding housing, education, or employment.
What is the role of a social worker?	Social workers play a key role in supporting looked after children. They assess your needs, develop your care plan, and provide support and guidance ¹¹. They also work with your carers and family to ensure that your needs are being met.
What is a Personal Education Plan (PEP)?	Every looked after child should have a PEP, which is part of their care plan. This plan outlines your educational needs and how they will be met ¹⁴. It also includes information about your school, your attendance, and your progress.
What support can I get in school?	Schools have a responsibility to support looked after children. They should have a designated teacher who is responsible for your well-being and progress in school ¹⁴. You may also be entitled to extra support, such as help with your schoolwork or access to counselling.
What if I am being bullied?	If you are being bullied, it is important to tell someone you trust, such as your carer, your social worker, or a teacher [25]. Schools have a duty to prevent bullying and to support children who are being bullied.

Conclusion

Looked after children are a diverse group with a wide range of needs. They often face significant challenges, but with the right support, they can overcome these challenges and achieve positive outcomes. The care system plays a crucial role in protecting vulnerable children and providing them with the stability and support they need to thrive. However, the system also faces challenges, such as a shortage of placements and difficulties in recruiting foster carers. These challenges can lead to instability for children in care and make it harder for them to achieve their full potential.

It is important to remember that looked after children are children first and foremost, and they deserve the same opportunities as all other children. By raising awareness of the challenges faced by looked after children and advocating for their rights, we can help ensure that they have the best possible chance of a bright future.

We can all play a part in supporting looked after children. This could involve volunteering with organizations that support children in care, donating to charities that work with vulnerable young people, or simply being more understanding and compassionate towards those who have experienced the care system. By working together, we can create a society where all children, regardless of their background, have the opportunity to flourish.

Works cited

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