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 Rhian Carter | Evidence from Rhian Carter
Please outline a maximum of three top priorities for radical reform of services for safely reducing the number of children in the care system.
For professionals to have a better understanding of trauma, and the impact this has on people's brain development that last a lifetime. Trauma leaves a legacy of vulnerabilities within people that are just below the service.
For more support to be available for children and adults who have experienced early years trauma not short term but over a lifetime.
Please outline a maximum of three top priorities for radical reform of services for children in care.
More training, and support for professionals working around the families to immerse their practice in understanding how trauma impacts upon children and former traumatized Children (now adults).
Research shows that the best chances for children are to intervene earlier, and this is crucial in reducing the trauma on a child and the impacts of this that can last a lifetime.
More resources so people can do their roles more efficiently e.g. smaller caseloads for Social Workers.
If a child/young person's plan is long term foster care then there could be a process of permanency in which a child should be able to have a childhood free from too much observation and scrutiny. By decreasing a Social Worker's statutory duties around visiting, reviews this would give a child much more of a normal childhood, and also would decrease the Social Worker's caseload.
Please outline a maximum of three top priorities for radical reform of the on-going support provided when young people leave care.
Raising the age that people can leave foster care to 25 years. Many young people leaving care at 18 years old are chronologically 18 years but emotionally much much younger and therefore do not have the skills or maturity to manage living independently at this age.
A team of workers who will work with carer leavers post 25 years. Many children leaving care experience mental health issues, substance/alcohol issues, isolation but many unfortunately aren't eligible for statutory service through MH teams, substance abuse teams so a team supporting vulnerable adults such as care leavers can offer that support to them.
More appropriate accommodation in which they are understanding of trauma, and the impact this has upon a young person's presentation.