Charities question councils' treatment of teenagers presenting as homeless

Children’s charity leaders have raised concerns over reports that children treated as homeless by local authorities rather than as in need of care are not being offered adequate information about their entitlements. A Freedom of Information request by the BBC sent to all London councils revealed figures for the number of councils who accommodated 16-and 17-year-olds under Section 20 of the Children Act 1989 were low or incomplete. Homeless children getting in touch with their local authority were reported to be "misled and unsure" when making decisions regarding their accommodation and wellbeing, with some being placed under Section 17 of the act which mean...

How can we help children in a mental health crisis?

Emily Aklan is Founder & CEO of Serenity Welfare, a children’s welfare provider offering a range of services from secure transport to crisis intervention. With the effects of the pandemic undoubtedly impacting on the wellbeing of children, there has never been a time when promoting good mental health of children in care has been so important. Care Talk caught up with Emily to find out how a child-centred approach can be practically and successfully applied to children suffering from mental health problems. The pandemic has had a hard impact on cared-for children’s mental health, as it has on all children, what can the industry be doing right now to help...

CARE-EXPERIENCED young people MORE LIKELY TO RECEIVE CRIMINAL CONVICTION THAN PEERS, FIGURES SHOW

More than half of looked-after children born in 1994 had a criminal conviction by the time they were 24, official figures have shown. The data, published by the Office for National Statistics, shows that 52 per cent of care-experienced young people were handed a criminal conviction by age 24, compared with 13 per cent of their non care experienced peers of the same age. One in seven care experienced children, whose data was examined for the research, received an immediate custodial sentence by the time they were 24, compared with one per cent of young people with no experience of care of the same age. Special report: Social, emotional and mental health...

VULNERABLE young people NEED SUPPORT, NOT MISINFORMATION

For most of us, our home is where we feel comfortable and where we rest our heads after a long day. But for vulnerable children in care it is so much more than that: it can be a refuge and a safe space where they can feel protected. Recent investigations have shown that thousands of homeless teenagers have been advised against turning to care homes for accommodation and told to seek cheaper hostels instead. Reports suggest that social workers have advised vulnerable children in this way, despite hostels lacking the necessary care and support stipulated under section 20 of the Children Act 1989. These hostels, populated primarily by adults, may offer some fina...

The mental scars left behind when we handcuff children

During Children's Mental Health Week, Emily Aklan says the unnecessary an unregulated physical restraining of children is a shocking practice that must be addressed...   Professional Social Work magazine, 4 February, 2021 Many of us have struggled over the last year, but for most, these struggles will ease once life returns to some sense of normality. Sadly, for many vulnerable children and young people in care, the results of the challenges they are facing will continue to have a profound impact on their mental health long after the pandemic is over. One of the most shocking challenges they endure is the mental effects of being physically restrained. Phys...

Examining the Covid-19 impact on children in care this Children's Mental Health Week

Discussions for Children’s Mental Health week have never been more important than this year. As we enter 2021, we leave behind us a truly unpredictable year, only with months of uncertainty ahead – it’s no wonder the conversation around young people’s mental health is a top priority. The mental health of this generation’s children has never been more critical, or more precarious. But what about children in the care system? Often overlooked in the wider discussion on young people’s mental health, the pandemic has brought heightened struggles. Many looked after children are suffering from the trauma of constant change, uncertainty, fear and distrust i...