Events > The Children in Care Symposium: Breaking the Cycle of Exclusion and Disadvantage

Event Details

Title:

The Children in Care Symposium:
Breaking the Cycle of Exclusion and Disadvantage

Date:

Thursday 25th September 2008

Time:

10:15am – 3:40pm (followed by networking drinks reception)

Venue:

One Whitehall Place, Westminster, London

“The mark of a decent society is how it treats its most vulnerable people. Children in care already face a tougher life than any child should have to. As a proxy parent, the state must raise its ambitions for these children, just as a good parent would, and transform their life chances through better emotional, practical and financial support at home and in the classroom.”
— Hon Alan Johnson MP, Minister of State, October 2006

“…We want all local councillors and council officers to be mindful of their parenting role, and give these young people the support they need. And we want those who work with children and young people, like teachers, doctors and police officers and everyone who supports children in care to act like extended family members and share responsibility for helping them to fulfil their potential. I want these children to be cared about not just cared for.”
— Kevin Brennan MP, Children’s Minister, March 2008

Overview

Over the last ten years, from Sure Start to Every Child Matters to Youth Matters and more recently the Care Matters agenda, the Government has sought to improve the outcomes of all children and young people and provide them with the support and protection they need to safeguard their well-being and development.

Recognising the need to address the cycle of exclusion and disadvantage suffered by more than 60,000 young people in the care system, the Government has reaffirmed its commitment to fulfil the potential of all children in care with the introduction, earlier this year, of Care Matters: Time for Change. This implementation plan sets out the practical steps that Local Authorities, in partnership with other agencies, need to take to turn the Care Matters vision of stability and raising aspirations into reality.

The Key Proposals in the Care Matters Agenda include:

Increasing the capacity of schools to address the needs of children in care, including designating a teacher in each school to ensure that each child is achieving their full potential

Giving children the option to stay on in care beyond the age of 16

Providing Local Authorities the ability to give children in care £2000 if they go on to higher education

Giving Local Authorities the power to appoint personal advisers to each child in care

This special Public Policy Exchange Symposium, hosted by the Centre for Parliamentary Studies, offers a timely opportunity for local practitioners and stakeholders to discuss these latest initiatives; and consider how they, along with the new legislative framework proposed by the Children and Young Persons Bill will deliver the Care Matters agenda effectively to ensure that every child in care’s potential is fully realised.

Programme