Looked after children and adoption
Children being adopted or taken into care are already vulnerable, and interventions in their lives must overcome existing disadvantage, not add to it. Barnardo’s seeks to improve outcomes for children, young people, families and carers at all stages, from initial placements to leaving care.
Reality check
Improve the support you give care leavers by listening to their feedback. Based on young people’s own accounts, this DVD and toolkit gives care workers a valuable opportunity to reflect. Provides activities for use within staff teams and with young people.
Where we are at
Meet Ali, Lofty and Smudge – who use Q&A, quizzes and activities to answer 7-11 year olds’ questions about being fostered, adopted or going on a short break. A fun, interactive CD-ROM developed through research in Barnardo’s projects.
Failed by the system
This survey reveals the shocking educational disadvantage faced by children in care. A world of targeted bullying, multiple placements and repeatedly changing schools is described by the 16-21 year olds surveyed. The situation of young people in care is contrasted with the support from parents and teachers enjoyed by most GCSE pupils.
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What works in adoption and foster care?
Written to help managers and practitioners make evidence based decisions about where and how to place children for the right outcomes. Looks at what factors are associated with positive outcomes, how practice can be evaluated and what research does not tell us.
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What works for young people leaving care?
Explores research in the context of practice, law and social and economic structures. This book looks at problems, service challenges and outcomes for young people leaving care.
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Better education, better futures: Research, practice and the views of young people in public care
Brings together research about the education of young people in care with examples of innovative policy and practice from a selection of local authorities across the UK. It also includes the views and experiences of young people who are or have been in care.
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FAIM Funday consultation report: What young people want from a foster care service
Creative methods were used to consult 27 children and young people looked after in Merseyside. The aim of Funday was to gather information to develop service protocols and inform the job description and person specification for foster carers.
Improving outcomes for young people leaving care in Brent
Executive summary of research, conducted by Barnardo’s for the London Borough of Brent, to inform development of services for looked after children and care leavers.
Memory Store
This pack provides a practical way of bringing together personal information for children who are losing contact with their parents, through either separation or bereavement. This colourful, easy-to-construct flat-packed box, that includes a special tray for treasured small items and a hard-backed booklet to recall important experiences, is a great base for children to build their own personal memory store from.
Mental health of looked after children and young people in public care
Most children in care have had to cope with difficult experiences and circumstances early in life. This can impact on every sphere of a child’s life including forming relationships, self esteem and achievement. This study reviews the provision of specialist mental health services available to looked after children in England and other European countries.
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Missing from care in Staffordshire
This report presents the findings of a study carried out for the Staffordshire Children and Lifelong Learning Directorate by Barnardo’s.
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Supported housing: The experience of young care leavers
Based on a three-year study of care leavers at a Barnardo's project in Cardiff, this report details young people's experiences and views on issues like accommodation, support, education, training, work, benefits, poverty and gender. The report makes detailed recommendations for the future.
Use of secure accommodation and alternative provisions for sexually exploited young people in Scotland
This report presents findings from research on the use of secure accommodation for young people involved in or at risk of involvement in sexual exploitation in Scotland. Commissioned by the Scottish Executive and carried about by Barnardo’s Policy and Research Unit.
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Voices and choices
An innovative report that presents learning from young people's participation in inspections of children's homes, carried out by a consortium of voluntary agencies. This report includes young people's views in their own words, and full details of the project methodology; all the young people involved in this pilot had experience of being in care.
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