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David Cameron says children in care have been 'let down for too long' | David Cameron says children in care have been 'let down for too long' |
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David Cameron has announced that the Government will bring in new laws to encourage the adoption of children in care. | David Cameron has announced that the Government will bring in new laws to encourage the adoption of children in care. |
Writing in the Sunday Times, the Prime Minister said vulnerable children had been let down by society and promised “zero tolerance” of state failure around social care. | |
The proposed legislation will encourage the permanent adoption of children by foster carers, even if that means ignoring family connections. | |
In his article, Mr Cameron wrote: "For too long, whether through misguided notions of what is right or sensitivities about not wanting to cause offence, we have let the most vulnerable in our country down. | |
"These are not someone else's children; they are all of ours, so every part of society should be stepping up to help care leavers get a shot at building a decent life." | |
Mr Cameron wrote that he was “unashamedly pro-adoption” and stressed the need for children to be given a stable home. | |
“We will legislate to tip the balance in favour of permanent adoption where that is the right thing for the child — even when that means over-riding family ties," he said. | |
"This is a vital move that will mean much greater importance is attached to the long-term stability and better outcomes that it can offer. | |
“Courts and social workers have begun to favour less stable placements with distant relatives such as great-aunts and uncles, rather than adoption by new families that would produce more permanent solutions and better outcomes." | |
As a result of that policy, adoption numbers had almost halved over the past two years, Mr Cameron said. | |
The government will outline its plans in the Queen’s Speech on Wednesday. | |
In March it was announced that children taken into care would be fast-tracked into permanent adoption away from their natural parents if it was deemed to be in the child’s best interest. | |
Currently it can take up to 18 months for children to be in care to be adopted – a time scale ministers admit is too long. | Currently it can take up to 18 months for children to be in care to be adopted – a time scale ministers admit is too long. |
The new legislation will also introduce a care-leavers’ covenant, which will mean more personalised help for young people at the end of their time in state care, such as providing a mentor until they are 25. | |
Reforms will also set “new, demanding standards” for all child and family social workers to meet by 2020, with a new regulator introduced to oversee the care system. | Reforms will also set “new, demanding standards” for all child and family social workers to meet by 2020, with a new regulator introduced to oversee the care system. |
According to government statistics, a third of people who have been in care become homeless in the two years immediately after they leave. | According to government statistics, a third of people who have been in care become homeless in the two years immediately after they leave. |
Almost half of children and young people in care are said to have a diagnosable mental health disorder compared with around one in 10 children who are not. | Almost half of children and young people in care are said to have a diagnosable mental health disorder compared with around one in 10 children who are not. |
Emma Smale, co-chair for the Alliance for Children in Care, said: “Investment in monitoring [care] outcomes is vital and we want to see the introduction of the measurement of children’s emotional wellbeing. | |
"This will help ensure that the system recognises the long lasting impact of traumatic experiences and help towards giving children in care the future they deserve.” |