Aims and Objectives: Looked after children are between four and five times more likely to have a mental disorder than children in the general population (Ford et al., 2007). In the context of the English care system, poor... [ view full abstract ]
Aims and Objectives:
Looked after children are between four and five times more likely to have a mental disorder than children in the general population (Ford et al., 2007). In the context of the English care system, poor mental health exposes children to a range of poor outcomes, including an increased risk of placement breakdown. Government statistics show that this continues to be a problem that affects many children in England each year; 14% of young people leaving care in England between 2014-15 had experienced 5 or more placements and 5% of those leaving care (1,390 children) had experienced 10 or more separate placements.
This presentation will draw out findings from an action research system design project undertaken by the NSPCC in partnership with four UK local authorities in 2014-15. It will identify the impact of failures of support on the lives of children in care, the key system challenges involved in supporting the mental health needs of children in care, and proposals for improving mental health outcomes for children in care.
Methods:
This system design project involved consulting with young people in care, their carers and professionals who support them in four UK local authorities (3 in England and 1 in Wales). Through interviews, focus groups and interactive workshops, the project team consulted with 42 children in care and care leavers, 65 foster carers and residential workers and over 70 professionals from health, social care, education services and the voluntary sector.
Through this work, we were able to identify how looked after children and their carers thought their mental health and wellbeing could best be supported through the care system; key ways in which this support was and wasn’t being supported currently, and proposals for how the care systems in these four areas could be changed so that looked after children’s mental health and wellbeing would be made a priority at all times. The report we published in July 2015 made proposals for how policy and practice could be strengthened both locally and nationally to improve mental health outcomes for looked after children.
Key findings:
This work identified 5 key priorities for change:
1. Embed an emphasis on emotional wellbeing throughout the system: Professionals working in the care system need the skills and knowledge to understand how they can support the emotional wellbeing of looked after children and young people.
2. Take a proactive and preventative approach: Support for looked after children should begin with a thorough assessment of their emotional and mental health needs.
3. Give children and young people voice and influence: Looked after children and young people need more opportunities to identify what is important to them and influence their own care.
4. Support and sustain children’s relationships: Children’s carers require training and support to be sensitive, understanding and resilient.
5. Support care leavers’ emotional needs: Help young people to identify and strengthen their support networks before they leave care.
References
Bazalgette, L., Rahilly, T., & Trevelyan, G. (2015). Achieving emotional wellbeing for looked after children: A whole system approach. London: NSPCC.
Ford, T., Vostanis, P., Meltzer, H., & Goodman, R. (2007). Psychiatric disorder among British children looked after by local authorities: Comparison with children living in private households. The British Journal of Psychiatry, 190(4), 319–325.
