What is important to children in care and care leavers?
The questions in our surveys were developed with children in care and care leavers, to reflect the things they felt made their lives good.
Children and young people stressed the importance of being supported to keep and develop their relationships with those that are important to them, as well as having trusting supportive relationships with the people in their lives.
The questions we ask around family, friends and supportive relationships include whether they have:
- An adult/person they can trust in their life.
- At least one good friend.
- Pets.
In addition, children in care are asked about whether they have:
- The right amount of contact with birth parents, brothers and sisters.
- Chances to be trusted.
- Support with worries and bullying.
We also ask care leavers about whether they have:
- Someone who listens, encourages and believes in them the number and type of people who give them emotional support.
- Partners and children.
How are local authorities supporting children and young people around family, friends & supportive relationships?
- Linking care leavers to community hubs to help them feel settled in their neighbourhoods and financially and practically supported (Sep 2021) Stockport
- Enabling children to know who their social worker is and improve trust (April 2021) St. Helen’s
- ‘Come Dine with Us’: monthly group sessions to develop self-esteem, cooking and budgeting skills and combat loneliness (Jan 2021) Isle of Wight
- Building trust leaving care workers through a Strength in Relationships practice model (January 2021) North Yorkshire
- Developing a culture of celebrating the success of our care leavers (Oct 2020) Coventry
- Little Bear: using story books and cuddly toys to make children comfortable with PPE during family time (June 2020) Southampton
To read more about what children and young people feel about their lives and their well-being, have a look at our publications and news items.
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