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Under the heading "Support care and short term breaks" the 2007 White Paper recommends using care as part of a family support service, both as a preventative measure and to help strengthen the prospects of a successful return home from care.

"Short term breaks such as support care…can therefore play a valuable role in supporting families under stress, as well as providing broader experiences and opportunities for children and young people."

Support care is described as a "very flexible resource" and "a community-based model" offering anything from "after school homework support" to "weekends away".

The role of the Fostering Network is outlined as follows:

"The Fostering Network has just completed a government-funded project to pilot a number of support care schemes. These pilots, following the model first successfully developed in Bradford Social Services Department, have proved to be very effective and popular with users and very cost-effective in enabling children to remain long term in their birth or wider family."

The section ends with a commitment to:

"Encourage all local authorities to commission "support care" as part of their range of provision for children in need."

The following case example is included:

Sam aged twelve with a diagnosis of ADHD

Bradford pioneered Support Care over ten years ago with the aim of supporting children and young people at home. It helps to prevent family breakdown and children being accommodated, and avoids the need for long term care.

Sam's home placement with his father and grandmother broke down as they struggled with his demanding behaviour. He went to live with his mother, who found herself immediately in difficulties and requested that he be accommodated.

The carer supported Sam's mother and advised her on how to respond to her son's behavioural difficulties. Sam's mother has become more confident in coping with her son's behaviour, feels less isolated with difficulties, and occasionally contacts the carer for advice.

It has proven to be a highly successful preventative intervention for children and young people on the edge of care and is a valued part of the family support strategy within Bradford Children’s Services.