Young people, the care system, welfare system and child protection

Barnardos has published Someone to Care, a report based on face-to-face research with 62 care leavers regarding their emotional experiences of leaving care and some of the ways the charity is supporting care leavers.

Key findings from the research include that:

• Initiatives such as the extension of staying put foster care arrangements until 21, the Care Leavers’ Charter, Junior ISAs, and extra checks for those at risk of leaving care at 16 will contribute to a better system and improved outcomes for these young people, however not all will benefit;
• The anxieties experienced by some young people leaving care are mainly caused because they need someone to care, someone to talk to, someone to be with, someone to set standards, and someone to show the way;
• Barnardo’s currently works with over 2,500 care leavers, providing commissioned services including leaving care support and supported housing options, as well as additional support including advocacy, participation, counselling and emotional support, sexual health care, and advice on employment and training; and
• There are support workers who go the extra mile to offer stressed, and sometimes unpredictable, young people a listening ear, a reliable presence and constant encouragement in the same way parents support their own youngsters.

To download the report visit www.barnardos.org.uk/someone_to_care_final_feb2014.pdf.

YMCA England has launched a series of three research reports into how young people living in YMCA’s sheltered accommodation view the welfare system. The reports highlight complaints about the way claims are handled, how young claimants are treated and a lack of freely available information and support.

• Processed and Punished focuses on vulnerable young people's experiences of the current welfare system, in particular looking at the support provided by Jobcentre Plus. To download the report visit http://childrenengland.us6.list-manage2.com/track/click?u=14466961e06a4f2dfbaae3cf8&id=62c917e428&e=5d8c2111db.
• Signed on and Sanctioned focuses on vulnerable young people's views on benefit sanctions. To download the report visit http://childrenengland.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=14466961e06a4f2dfbaae3cf8&id=860089f089&e=5d8c2111db.
• Uninformed and Underprepared focuses on vulnerable young people's views on the welfare reforms, in particular examining how they feel the introduction of Universal Credit will impact on them. To download the report visit http://childrenengland.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=14466961e06a4f2dfbaae3cf8&id=a4332e9115&e=5d8c2111db.

YMCA England has also published online guides designed to help vulnerable young people gain a better understanding of the welfare system, which can be downloaded at www.ymca.org.uk/policy/briefings.

The government has published updated guidance on crisis mental health care which stresses that police custody should never be used as a place of safety for children and young people except in exceptional circumstances.

To download the guidance, which sets out the principles and good practice that should be followed by health staff, police officers and approved mental health professionals when working together to help people in a mental health crisis, visit www.gov.uk/government/publications/mental-health-crisis-care-agreement.

The University of Edinburgh in partnership with Strathclyde and Coventry Universities is carrying out research into the experiences and views of maltreated deaf and disabled young people of UK child protection services.

They would like to hear from deaf and disabled young people between the ages of 11 and 26 who are willing to be interviewed about their experiences, including those who have experienced abuse but did not access services.

For further information visit www.childprotection.ed.ac.uk.