Effect Of Corporate Parenting On Looked After Children Social Work Essay

Effect Of Corporate Pargonnting On Looked After electric shaverren Social Work EssayThis dissertation is based around the use of corporate fireing in looked later kidren. It go forth discuss and explore the role of corporate parenting in general with the exposed group looked laterward children as this is applicable to pr defendice experience as it is based upon 80 days work placement.The concept of Corporate Parenting was first introduced in September 1998 by the Secretary of terra firma for Health Frank Dobson, as genius part of the governments Quality Protects program to influence over childrens operate. It emphasized the key role that chosen members would play.The Governments Quality Protects gap (1998) requires topical anesthetic authorities to identify children with additional family burdens and to suffer services that are geared to ensure these childrens education and general development do not suffer. (www.doh.gov.uk/qualityprotects)When a child becomes looked after, the responsibilities of their parent become the liability. And it is required to serve everyone working for the council as elected members of the council.This is kn admit as corporate parenting and it is the corporal responsibility of the council to provide the broad(prenominal) hat manageable heraldic bearing and protection for children who are looked after. As a corporate parent, we should act in the way we would if the child were our own. (http//www.southglos.gov.uk/NR/exeres/b10f32d0-3db1-4b38-980d-147f4ad1f6d4)1.2 Who are Corporate Parents?Corporate parenting contains all psyche who has responsibility for the grapple and security of children. The concept of corporate parenting relates to the collective duties and responsibilities of the Local Authority for looked after children uninjuredguard and to promote the life.Corporate Parenting is a collective responsibility of the Council, with Councillors having a distinct role to play in ensuring that the outcomes an d life sees of looked after children are maximized ( The Role of Councillors as Corporate Parents May 2005 Scrutiny freshen Group).The essential principle of Corporate Parenting is that all councillors and staff employed by the Council should parent the Looked After children and drillboyish population in their concern as they would their own children.All selected members of the Council have a duty to act as a Corporate Parent to children in the make do of that Council. The function of the Corporate Parent (Councillors) is to make sure that the services provided by the Council as an entire contribute to achieving constructive outcomes for kids in care.Specifically, they must guarantee that children in their care are healthysafeenjoy and accomplish in lifemake a positive input to societyachieve economic securityIn order to hold this responsibility, Councillors must beShould be well informed about the children for whom they are responsibleNeed to think about how they are affecte d by council decisions essential listen to what children and materialization hatful sayMust be a supporter for children and two-year-old people.1.3 Who are looked after children?The phrase Looked After was commenced by the clawren subprogram 1989 and refers to children and young peopleunder the age of 18who live away from their family or parentsare supervised by a social worker from the local council childrens services department.The term Looked after children applies to those children who are looked after by a local authority when eitherThey are accommodated by the LA at the communicate of a person with parental responsibility, or because they are lost or abandoned, or because there is no person with responsibility for them (S. 20 Children prompt 1989)They are placed in the care of the LA by a court (part IV Children Act 1989) Interim feel for Order or Full Care OrderIn very rare cases children and young people may also become looked after via Ward ship proceedings (High Co urts exercise of its inborn jurisdiction independent of stature (Children Act 1989)Thais topic will initiate with the below questions and answers with brief explanation and references to be sorted out the focus upon overcompensate direction.They are subject to emergency orders to secure their immediate protection, (Part V Children Act 1989) Emergency Protection Orders or Police Orders or are remanded by a court to the care of the LA (S. 23 Children Young Persons Act 1969)In very rare cases children and young people may also become looked after via Wardship proceedings (High Courts exercise of its inherent jurisdiction independent of stature (Children Act 1989)For most children, care is proposed to be time-limited with the mean that the child will return home(a) as soon as possible. (The Children Act 1989) aims to get a balance between the need to protect children from destruction and the need to protect children and families from unnecessary intervention.It encourages arrangemen ts for services to children to be agreed between the parents and the service providers whenever possible. The Act embodies the belief that children are best looked after within the family unit without legal intervention unless this is inconsistent with their offbeat and safety.1.4 Why is corporate parenting necessary?Children may be looked after for many different reasons, including protection from harm and abuse. Children have had a long history of world looked after away from home, in such places as institutions, orphanages, foster homes, approved schools and borstals ( subdivision of Health 1998a).Parents who are unable to look after their child may collect a local authority to do so. Children female genitalia become looked after for a numerous reasons about children may have been abused or suffered gloomy experiences, some may be in care due to family illness or the death of a parent. Others may have complex needs or disabilities and be unable to be cared at home. Often ch ildren whobecome looked after for a short time period due to family trouble like some children do not have a parent or relative to look after them, possibly because of death or serious illnessor because they have been separated.Young people aged over 16 years may choose to be looked after for a variety of reasons, including abuse, domestic fierceness or stress at home. Local authorities must provide accommodation for children who are lost, abandoned, or whose parents are unable to care for them. governing shall provide accommodation for any child in need in their area who appears to them to require it as a result of there being no person with parental responsibility for him, or because he is lost and abandoned, or because the person who has been caring for him is prevented from providing suitable accommodation or car ( role 20 (1) CA 1989)Section 20(3) of the Act gives local authorities a duty to provide accommodation for a child age 16 and 17 years if the authority considers tha t his welfare will be seriously prejudiced without such a serviceA local authority may provide accommodation for any young person who has reached the age of sixteen but is under twenty-one if they consider that to do so may safeguard and promote his welfare, even if their parent objects. (Section 20 (5)-(11) CA 1989)The Governments aim is for every child, whatever their background or their circumstances, to give the support they need to improving outcomes also involves narrowing the gap between deprived children and their peers. The Government is focusing particularly on improving outcomes for looked-after childrenEd Balls says in his letter to looked-after children 2009We want to make sure you have the equivalent chances as different children to fulfill your dreams and to be happy.When there is breakdown and a child has to be removed from its family, the local authority is then expected to act as the corporate parent and to provide substitute care.The job is delegated to a local authority department, and its paid professional agents social workers, foster carers or residential staff act on behalf of the wider community.And when they leave care, they are on their own, having to find their way in the world. It is no wonder that a high proportion of care leavers end up in prison, or with psychological health problems, or with unplanned pregnancies, or in abusive relationships.Chapter 02METHODOLOGYThe study aimed to discover from children their views on being looked after and the degree of power they felt they had to manipulate decisions made about them. Total fifteen looked after children were interviewed. Social workers were asked to identify children who met the criteria of between ten to seventeen and having been in care for at least two years. The children were given a questionnaire from the research worker to explain the purpose of the study and asked if they were ready to be interviewed.The method was selected, however, because confidentiality prohibi ted the researcher being given names and addresses without the childrens permission. It is not clear how many children were carry forwarded and rejected. Of those who initially said they would participate, later on dropped while arranging their interviews, leaving a total sample of fifteen. This comprisedGender Girls 7 Boys 8Age10 years114 years415 years416 years317 years3Length of time in care (based on childrens report)2 years33 years34 years35 years37 years113 years2 symbol of care only two were in residential care, the remainder in advance care.Children were given a common view of the research aim. But the interviews were stubborn to be conducted in unstructured way. They were informed that the examiner wanted to hear their vision on how much they are told about what is happening to them, whether they feel their base is listened to, and whether they are supposed to feel as they are involved in decisions made about their lives.Research involving children creates particular mora l dilemmas in that they are typically less aright than the adult researcher (Thomas and OKane,1998). The unstructured interview was chosen in that it gave them maximum control over the research process and ensured that each child talked only of those topics that mattered to them and could avoid personal issues they did not want to discuss with a stranger.2.1 FindingsBecause of the promise of confidentiality, care has been taken in reporting the findings to ensure that no several(prenominal) can be identified.The importance of the social workerAll mentioned the importance of the social worker in their lives. The social worker was seen as very powerful and, when the relationship worked well, as a very strong ally. One described the qualities needed in a social worker asSomeone who can talk to children, get to know them, take them out, and phone regularly so they keep in touch with what is happening.Most could remember at least one social worker with whom they had got on particularly well and who had made them feel well cared for and supported.She would sort out anything that was bothering me.The biggest complaint about social workers (from eight children) was the high turnover and the subsequent interruption for them.Social workers were also criticised for their reliability in everyday matters such as keeping appointments on time or safekeeping reviews on time. Children interpreted this carelessness as a sign of their low priority in the social workers life.However, Butler and Williamsons research bears out both the affirmatory and critical opinions. They report that many children are seeking a more emotional, empathic level of interaction but that the experience for many is, in contrast, an or so technical, allegedly robotic nature of professional interventions in childrens lives(1994, p.84).ConfidentialityIt is essential to share information for good planning and care but, from the childs point of view, this can seem very intrusive. Again, the problem ref lects the normal processes of stand uping up. Teenagers develop autonomy and increasing privacy as part of maturation but, for a child in care, it is difficult to achieve that alike(p) sense of privacy. Several of the older immaturers complained of the lack of confidentiality and, hence, a reluctance to share their thoughts and feelings because it would all get written down in their file and read by strangers.Butler and Williamsons research also highlighted the importance and perceived lack of confidentiality to children there is a pervasive feeling amongst children and young people that even a loyalty to confidentiality is, too often, a false promise and that information divulged will then be spread around without the consent of the individual concerned (1994, p.78).2.2 Anti-discriminatory practice however one young person spoke his experience of racism. He was a seventeen year old black man who complained that he was continually halt and questioned by the police and that whit e women looked fearful and crossed the road to avoid him. Since he had no record of crime or violence, he felt this was whole unfair and due to racism.2.3 DebateThis is only a small sample so the responses cannot be taken as representative of the views of looked after children in general. However, it is possible to examine the issues they raised and discuss the challenges they pose to professionals endeavoring to listen to their voices whether or not they are typical.Chapter 03Literature ReviewThere are approximately 61,000 children and young people in care in UK, with boys comprising 55% of that population. These statistics are almost a quarter higher than those of a decade ago. Of this group, more than two out of deuce-ace children live in foster care, and just over one in ten in residential care (childrens homes). An estimated 1% of care leavers progress to University, compared with 37% of young people in the population as a whole (Jackson et al 2003).The outcome nationally is poor for looked after children and there is an over-representation of previously looked after children amongst those who are homeless, unemployed or in prison. In 2002, 6% of all school leavers were unemployed. Of this figure, 25% were young people in the care of were unemployed. Of this figure, 25% were young people in the care of Local Authorities. There is a high proportion of these children who suffer from poor mental health or become teenage parents with looked after children being 5 times more likely to develop mental illness than their peers. If the child also has a disability or comes from a black or minority ethnic background they face a double jeopardy and are at greater disadvantage. There remain a disproportionate number of disabled children accommodated by local authorities. Only one per cent of Looked After Children go to University.3.1 THE ROLE OF CORPORATE PARENTINGThe role of corporate parent is defined in Think Child (1999) as the followingFinding out getting the f acts and follow them up, Make decisions by playing your part in the business of the council, Listening to children and young people also finding out from them how councils services work for them and remembering that children are citizens too. To be a champion for children by taking a lead in the community in putting children first. This strategy embeds the following core values that all Children in Care should improvement fromA positive sense of identity and self-worth.Belonging to a family in the widest sense and also a community.Good health.A safe, healthy, child-friendly environment, including appropriate housing, play and leisure time facilities.Freedom from bullying.A right to privacy.Equal access to services.RespectChildren in care have a unique relationship with the state. The local authority fulfils some, or all, of the traditional parenting role this can happen on many levels, from decisions about their day to day care by means of to decisions about where a child will l ive and which school they will attend. This responsibility has become known as corporate parenting in recognition that the task must be shared by the local authority as a whole, from lead members to frontline practitioners. Strong corporate parenting arrangements are central to improving services for children and young people in care.Improving the role of the corporate parent, as part of childrens trusts, is key to improving the outcomes for children in care. It is with the corporate parent that responsibility and accountability for the wellbeing and future prospects of children in care ultimately rest. A good corporate parent must offer everything that a good parent would, including constancy. It must address both the difficulties which children in care experience and the challenges of parenting within a complex system of different services. Equally, it is important that children have a chance to shape and influence the parenting they receive.3.2 WHERE ARE THE PROBLEMS?The circums tances and experiences of looked-after children and young people have shown that they can experience many disadvantages. Research indicates that looked-after children experience poorer outcomes than other children across a range of measures, including health and education.To achieve these outcomes, councils must bear witness their payload to helping every child they look after wherever the child is placed to achieve their potential.The complicated role of parenting happens on many levels from staple decisions about their day to day care and the quality of the emotional support they receive, through to big decisions about where a child will live and what school they attend as well as imparting values which help to shape their future aspirations and ambitions.For most children, these different levels are fulfilled by the same people but it is more complex for children in care. And children and young people in care themselves have told us repeatedly that they want and need stabili ty and continuity of care so that those who look after them do not change so frequently. The challenge, therefore, is to ensure that the quality of care which children experience meets their need for a secure attachment and promotes their resilience and that this is achieved as far as possible without the need for a series of placements before finding the right one.For the first time, the Department for Children, Schools and Families presented data on the emotional and behavioral health of looked-after children and young people, finding that about 60% of those looked after in England were reported to have emotional and mental health problems. It also reported that a high proportion of looked-after children and young people experience poor health, educational and social outcomes after leaving care (Department for Children, Schools and Families 2009c).A government strategy for children and young peoples health noted that a third of all children and young people in tint with the crimi nal justice system have been looked after (Department for Children, Schools and Families and DH 2009).3.3 EVERY CHILD MATTERSGreen Paper, 2003, led to the Children Bill, which was presented to Parliament in March 2004 and is now enacted as the Children Act 2004. The Act sets out a long term programme for change for childrens services across the country. It places a duty on all Local Authorities to produce a plan which addresses disadvantage, raises achievement and safe guards children and young people in their area.This legislation is the legal underpinning for Every Child Matters, which sets out the Governments approach to the upbeat of children and young people from birth to age 19.The aim of the Every Child Matters program is to give all children the support they need tobe healthy apprehension safeenjoy and achievemake a positive contributionachieve economic well-being.The Every Child Matters agenda has been further developed through publication of the Childrens Plan in December 2007. The Childrens Plan is a ten-year strategy to make England the best place in the world for children and young people to grow up. It places families at the heart of Government policy, taking into account the fact that young people spend only one-fifth of their childhood at school. Because young people learn best when their families support and encourage them, and when they are taking part in positive activities outside of the school day, the Childrens Plan is based around a series of ambitions which cover all areas of childrens lives.The Plan aims to improve educational outcomes for children, improve childrens health, reduce offending rates among young people and eradicate child meagerness by 2020, thereby contributing to the achievement of the five Every Child Matters outcomes. http//www.dcsf.gov.uk/everychildmatters/about/This strategy reflects many of the initiatives recommended in the Children Bill and subsequent Act and demonstrates the commitment of the Council to discha rge its duties and improve childrens services. The development of Childrens Trust arrangements will bring together representatives from key agencies and Primary Care Trusts. Whilst the Councils responsibilities towards looked after children are discharged primarily through the and Young Persons Department, the Council recognises the significant contribution to the well being of looked after children and their carers to be made by other Council departments and therefore requires, as part of this strategy, the effective and executive director engagement of all service departments in meeting the needs of this group of vulnerable children and young people.3.4 WHAT IS THE GOVERNMENT DOING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM?In 2003, the Government published a Green Paper called Every Child Matters alongside the formal response to the report into the death of Victoria Climbi. After a thorough mention process, the Children Act 2004 became law. This legislation is the legal underpinning for Every Child M atters, which sets out the Governments approach to the well-being of children and young people from birth to age 19.The aim of the Every Child Matters programme is to give all children the support they need Looked-after children have a right to expect the outcomes we want for every child.These are that theyEnjoy the best health and live a healthy lifestyle .Are kept safe from harm and neglect and feel secure at all times .Are given the chance to learn and achieve, and enjoy leisure time .Are given the opportunity to make the most out of life and take a full part in the community .Grow up in a strong and secure family situation and achieve rewarding adult lives .( The Charter for Children and Young People )( Every Child Matters Agenda)