Senedd Cymru | Welsh Parliament
Y Pwyllgor Plant, Pobl Ifanc ac Addysg | Children, Young People and Education Committee
Gwasanaethau i blant sydd wedi bod mewn gofal: archwilio diwygio radical | Services for care experienced children: exploring radical reform
Ymateb gan Rhiant Maeth | Evidence fromFoster Parent
Please outline a maximum of three top priorities for radical reform of services for safely reducing the number of children in the care system.
Please outline a maximum of three top priorities for radical reform of services for children in care.
Employment status for Foster Parents
(Allowing long term, stable, fully supportive homes to children that are accountable and to a high standard. Without dedicated and fully supported foster homes with high levels of care, many children will continue to be failed.
Children in care to have access to ALL required support services in a timely manner.
(Too often children in care are refused access to ongoing counselling and desperately needed support provision, this includes access to diagnosis - this cannot go on)
To continue with the When I am ready scheme
(To allow young people a place to call home for as long as possible)
Please outline a maximum of three top priorities for radical reform of the on-going support provided when young people leave care.
Retain the When I Am Ready scheme.
(This will allow young people to continue to receive guidance from those who have their best interest at heart.
Ditch the universal income idea! Young people need support and guidance not money thrown at them. Empower young people with incentives and support.
Ensure any young person leaving care with no support has a place to call home.
Where to start!? Massive reform is needed. Eliminate private agencies and profit from care and invest in secure, loving foster homes. Make Foster care a career and invest in foster families to allow them to invest in the child in their care. The reason why local authorities are unable to recruit and retain is due to lack of PROPER support and financial incentives. The number of empty foster homes is high and we need a Wales wide register for foster parents, they should be nationally registered not locally (LA or agency) to allow quick placement of children across Wales.
The campaign to 'keep children local' has to be reconsidered. Many children who have suffered abuse and neglect need to move away from their area in order to not re-live trauma. This one size fits all approach is not suitable.