How social workers can track and boost the happiness of looked-after children

By Linda Briheim-Crookall

Community Care

Children in care want many of the same things other children want – good relationships with family and friends, and opportunities to have fun.

However, their well-being is affected by things other children may not experience. They have relationships with carers and social workers.

Most surveys and measures of how children are doing are designed by adults. This fails to recognise children and young people as experts on their own experience.