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Report attacks child care system Care system 'fails young people'
(about 8 hours later)
Three-quarters of children in care have no educational qualifications at all when it ends, a report into the state of the care system claims. Most young people in local authority care are destined to end up in prison, homeless or working as prostitutes, a report by a think tank claims.
Out of the 6,000 children who leave the care of the state each year, 60 make it to university, says a report by think tank the Centre for Policy Studies. Of the 6,000 who leave care each year, 4,500 will have no qualifications and a fifth will be homeless, says the study by the Centre for Policy Studies.
Report author Harriet Sergeant said a failing system was a "major contributor to social exclusion in this country". Report author Harriet Sergeant said the system was failing young people and society and perpetuating an underclass.
The Department for Education said it had plans to help children in care. The government admitted that more needs to be done despite recent improvements.
A department spokeswoman said: "We are already working on a major consultation document, to be launched shortly, on a wide range of proposals to transform the outcomes of children in care." In 2005, 60,900 children were in care with most placed with foster parents or in children's homes.
State 'responsible' Abusive childhood
It comes after Ms Sergeant warned: "A childhood of abuse followed by an adolescence spent in care sets up young people for all the disadvantages that define social exclusion: illiteracy, homelessness, drug and alcohol dependency, prostitution and criminality. The report - entitled Handle with Care: an investigation into the care system - showed most were in care due to abuse or neglect (62%), family dysfunction (10%), absent parents (8%), and socially unacceptable behaviour (3%).
Vast sums of money are being spent on a system that contains rather than cares or protects Harriet Sergeant It also found:
"A successful system of care would transform this country, empty a third of our prisons and shift half of all prisoners under the age of 25 out of the criminal justice system.
"It would halve the number of prostitutes and homeless, and remove 80% of Big Issue sellers from our street corners."
She said the state was removing young people from their parents and making itself responsible.
"It has complete control, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It should be a unique opportunity to transform these children's lives.
"Instead vast sums of money are being spent on a system that contains rather than cares or protects," she said.
Other findings in the report - entitled Handle with Care: an investigation into the care system - included
  • within two years of leaving care 3,000 of 6,000 young people will be unemployed
  • within two years of leaving care 3,000 of 6,000 young people will be unemployed
  • 2,100 will be mothers or pregnant
  • 2,100 will be mothers or pregnant
  • 1,200 will be homeless
  • 1,200 will be homeless
  • nearly half of all young people leave care at 16 or 17
  • nearly half of all young people leave care at 16 or 17
    • The report said children were moved "far too frequently" between carers, that care homes focused on short-term containment rather than long-term success, and there was not enough support for charges once they had left the system. Ms Sergeant said a childhood of abuse followed by an adolescence spent in care sets up young people for all the disadvantages that define social exclusion: illiteracy, homelessness, drug and alcohol dependency, prostitution and criminality.
    "A successful system of care would transform this country, empty a third of our prisons and shift half of all prisoners under the age of 25 out of the criminal justice system.
    "It would halve the number of prostitutes and homeless, and remove 80% of Big Issue sellers from our street corners."
    The report said the problem is not the amount of money - the government spends £40,000 on each child - but the way it is spent.
    It added that children were being moved "far too frequently" between carers, care homes focused on short-term containment rather than long-term success, and there was not enough support for charges once they had left the system.
    There is no single person doing what a good parent does for their own children Beverley HughesMinister for Children
    It called for "secure, stable, long-term and loving care for difficult children".It called for "secure, stable, long-term and loving care for difficult children".
    Among the children quoted in the study was one 14-year-old girl who had been through 30 placements.Among the children quoted in the study was one 14-year-old girl who had been through 30 placements.
    "You feel like a bit of rubbish yourself who no-one wants," she is quoted as saying."You feel like a bit of rubbish yourself who no-one wants," she is quoted as saying.
    The DfES said its consultation document would "look at how we can close the gap in the life chances and academic performance of looked after children and improve their prospects significantly". Minister for Children Beverley Hughes said in some cases the system was compounding the young person's experiences.
    It added: "In advance of the consultation we have already taken a number of steps, including regulating to ensure children in care are given top priority in school admissions and giving local authorities the power to direct a school to accept a looked-after child, even if the school says it is full." She said a lack of accountability and a fragmented system were to blame.
    "There is no single person doing what a good parent does for their own children, that is driving the system, making it work, making sure the health checks are done, making sure the schools are delivering," she said.
    The Department for Education and Skills said it was working on a consultation document on a range of proposals to transform the outcomes of children in care.
    The department said it would look at "how we can close the gap in the life chances and academic performance of looked after children and improve their prospects significantly".