| 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
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:
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.
| 09:30 | Registration & Morning Refreshments |
| 10:15 | Chair's Welcome and Introduction |
| 10:30 |
Panel Session One: Making Every Child in Care Matter – Delivering the Promises of Care Matters and the Children and Young Persons Bill |
| 11:15 | Morning Refreshments |
| 11:30 | Open Floor Discussion & Debate with Panel One |
| 12:30 | Networking Lunch |
| 13:30 |
Panel Session Two: Embedding the Reform Agenda – New Care System Models and Improving Partnership Working Locally |
| 14:15 | Afternoon Refreshments |
| 14:30 | Open Floor Discussion & Debate with Panel Two |
| 15:30 | Chair's Summary and Closing Comments |
| 15:40 | Networking Drinks Reception |