England's care system faces 'radical reform' as new review is launched
Children's Minister promises it will listen "deeply" to those who have gone through the system to make once-in-a-generation changes
Last updated 20th Jan 2021
A wholesale, independent review of children’s social care has been launched to radically reform England's care system, and improve the lives of our most vulnerable children.
Education Secretary Gavin Williamson says he hopes it will raise the bar for vulnerable children across the country, delivering on a 2019 manifesto commitment that pledged to look at the care system to ensure children and young adults get the support they need.
The review is designed to help reshape how children interact with the care system, from referral through to becoming looked after.
It will aim to address major challenges such as the increase in numbers of looked after children, the inconsistencies in children’s social care practice, outcomes across the country, and the failure of the system to provide enough stable homes for children.
WATCH: Children's Minister Vicky Ford MP speaks to Senior Correspondent Mick Coyle
What happens to children in care?
The outcome for children in care is not always positive.
Children who have been in care comprise 25% of the homeless and 24% of the prison population. Over a third of care leavers (39%) are not in education, employment or training, compared to 13% of all 19-21 year olds and just 13% progressed to Higher Education by age 19 compared to 43% of all other pupils.
Education Secretary Gavin Williamson said:
“We have known for some time that despite the best efforts of hardworking and dedicated social workers, the children’s social care system is not delivering a better quality of life and improved outcomes for those it is designed to help.
“This review will be bold, wide-ranging and will not shy away from exposing problems where they exist."
People in care sharing their experiences.
People who have been through the care system are being encouraged to add their voices to the review.
Children's Minister Vicky Ford MP told us:
"The voices of those who've been through the care system are absolutely key to this review.
"We have, over the past year, brought in some really big improvements, both for those in care and for care leavers. There's always more we should be doing and we want to hear the voices of those care-experienced people.
"It's a really sad statistic that so many who've grown up in care find themselves in difficult circumstances - homeless or unemployed or in prison from time to time, and that's why we've focused so hard in recent years on giving education support for children who are looked after so they finish school, they get qualifications and they can move on to the next stage of their journey.
"That's been a good change, but I think there's always more we can do, and this review is a once-in-a-generation chance to reform the system and look deep, deep down at what more we can do."