The Welsh Government will invest £15m next year to help safely
reduce the need for children to enter care and support children
in care, Minister for Children, announced today.
As at March 2017, there were 5,954 children in care in Wales, and
increase of 5% on the previous year. This increasing trend
is being seen across the UK.
The funding to expand preventative and early intervention
services announced today will be used to build on the support the
Welsh Government and its partners are providing to families and
children early on, so they are supported to stay together and
ultimately reduce the need for children to enter care.
The funding is part of an additional £30m which has been
allocated to Regional Partnership Boards to help strengthen
integrated working, announced in the Draft Budget 2019-20 by the
Cabinet Secretary for Finance, .
Minister for Children, Older People and Social Care, said:
“As part of our programme for government, Taking Wales
Forward, we set out a clear commitment to examine ways of
ensuring looked after children enjoy the same life chances as
other children and if necessary reform the way they are looked
after. Our national strategy, Prosperity for
All also describes our priorities around supporting
children and families at the edge of care and young people in
care, particularly as they transition towards adulthood.
“So I’m delighted to confirm we will invest £15m next year to
progress our shared ambition that by intervening with support
early we reduce the need for children to enter care and
supporting children in care. I expect local authorities, third
sector organisations and health boards to work in partnership to
use this fund flexibly and creatively across their regions. It is
essential for successful delivery and want to thank them for them
for their co-operation and contribution so far.”
As part of the Welsh Government’s Improving Outcomes for Children
programme, Ministers are taking an ambitious cross-Government and
cross-sector approach to help achieve their priorities and fulfil
their commitment to improve the lives of children in care. The
programme is increasing its focus on addressing the factors which
can lead to children requiring local authority care.
Last year, the Welsh Government invested £9m to support care
experienced children.
This has resulted in:
- A £5m investment in local authority edge of care services
meant that local authorities helped over 3,600 children to remain
within the family unit by working with more than 2,000 families.
- Over 1,900 care-experienced children across Wales have
received funds via the Welsh Government’s £1m St David’s Day
Fund, to support their transition to adulthood and
independence.
- The establishment of Regional Reflect services. During
the past year, these services supported 150 young parents whose
children have been placed in the care system. They have helped
with issues such as contraception, housing, substance misuse,
mental health and practical parenting skills.
- £1m has been provided to extend the provision Personal
Advisers so that all care leavers up to the age of 25 are offered
a PA, regardless of circumstances. As a result an
additional 20 Personal Advisers have been recruited and the
extended offer taken up by more than 500 care leavers.
- Care leavers have been helped to access opportunities in
education, employment or training - 70 young people are now
participating in a local authority work placement or traineeship
scheme.
In May this year, research was published on placement outcomes
for children after a final care order. This important
research showed that over three quarters of the children in the
study experienced a high level of placement stability as well as
identifying other positive experiences of care.
The Minister added:
“We have made significant progress in improving outcomes for
children in Wales. The work being done across Wales is leading to
real, tangible outcomes which are having a direct and positive
impact on the lives of children and young people.”
ENDS
Background
The Ministerial Advisory Group on Looked After Children’s
programme for work is being accelerated and intensified to
expedite delivery against key challenges, including those
identified in the Care Crisis Review.
As a result, the improving outcomes for children work programme
has been refreshed. This 3rd phase of the programme
continues much of the important work that is already in train but
places more emphasis on:
- Reducing the need for care and providing effective support to
families
- Ensuring prevention and early intervention is intrinsic
throughout the whole programme
- The provision of therapeutic support to families, children
and young people involved with children’s services
- The role of the workforce
An Improving Outcomes for Children National Event on Thursday (15
November) where we will have an opportunity to share learning,
innovative approaches and recognise successes.
