Government looks to improve quality of life for children in care

This week the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) and the Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) launched an open consultation on draft guidance that has been developed to improve the quality of life of the 60,000 children and young people in care in England.

The two organisations have been asked by the Department of Health (DoH) and Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) to provide guidance on promoting the physical and emotional health and well-being of looked-after children and to address the inequalities they experience compared to other young people.

Draft recommendations include increasing training and support for primary carers such as foster carers, keeping more accurate and up-to-date health information about a child, supporting young people through higher education and university, and providing more effective support when young people leave care.

Madeleine Tearse, policy manager at the Fostering Network, commented; “Many children and young people have a positive experience of being in care, are emotionally and physically healthy, achieve well in education and go on to good jobs and careers.

“However, the system is letting far too many children down. It is a sad fact that young people in care are more likely to experience emotional and mental health problems than their peers. Improving their experience of care and ensuring we have a foster carer workforce equipped to meet their needs is vital.”

The Fostering Network will be providing feedback on the guidance, which can be viewed on the NICE website. The deadline for comments is Wednesday 14 April and the final guidance is due to be published in September.