CHILDREN WHAT?

REPORT TO THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY FOR
WALES

CONTENTS.

1. The Children First Targets
2. Poems by young people
3. Background and introduction
4. A Summary of the Key Messages
5. The South Wales Conference
6. The North Wales Conference
7. Feedback from the Conferences
8. Conclusion
9. Poems by Young People

The Children First Targets for
Looked After Children 2001

Placements
No more than 10% of children Looked After should have 3 or more placements by 2002.

Education
At least 50% of children leaving care aged 16 or over to have more than 2 G.C.S.E/G.N.V.Q. qualifications by 2002 and 75% by 2003.

Health
100% of children Looked After to have appropriate health checks.

Offending
To reduce by 10% the relative rate of offending by Looked After Children in each Authority area.

Leaving Care
The level of employment training or Further Education amongst young people aged 19 in 2001-2002 who were Looked After in their 17th year to be at least 60% of the level amongst all young people of the same age living in the same Local Authority area.

Poems

Complaints

You speak but you do not listen.
I tell you, I have a reason to call.
You say I can complain,
But you do not hear my voice or let me explain.
So please let me complain
About my anger and my pain.

Leaving Care

Leaving Care is not much fun.
I think I would rather go on the run.
You move out and you’re on your own.
It’s so hard to call any place your home,
All I can do is think and roam.

I’m lost,
I’m all-alone,
Nowhere to run to,
No one to turn to,
Nothing I can call my own,
No place I can call my home.

I am ostracised,
Criticised.
How can you possibly see the world through my eyes?

I am alone.
In your vision of stone.
You watch me crawl
And you let me fall.

Education is my basic need
Like the tree that grew from the seed.

I believe I have the right
To see the world through my own sight;
To learn,
To speak and be heard.

SECTION 1:

BACKGROUND AND INTRODUCTION

1. Children What? Looked After Children’s response to Children First.

1.1. Background

The National Assembly for Wales launched its Children First initiative as a clear statement of its commitment to assist vulnerable children and young people and improving their lives. The Children First Programme set out clear objectives and targets for local authorities in their work with Looked After Children and children in need. New funding was also allocated to local authorities to allow them to respond to the challenges of the Children First Programme and its updates are included in the appendices.

The National Assembly for Wales recognises the importance of the Children First initiative and a number of methods are being employed in monitoring the outcomes of this initiative. One very important dimension of evaluating the Children First initiative is its effect on children and young people.

The National Assembly for Wales wished to have direct feedback from Looked After Children on their awareness of, experiences of and responses to the Children First initiative. This was discussed with Voices from Care Cymru and it was agreed that two conferences should be held, one in North Wales and one in South Wales facilitated by Voices from Care Cymru. These events would provide an opportunity for Looked After Children and young people to comment directly and to share their views. This decision is very significant as it is the first time that the National Assembly for Wales has commissioned direct consultation events exclusively with children and young people about policy implementation.

1.2 Voices from Care Cymru

At Voices From Care we bring young people who are, or have been looked after throughout Wales by local authorities, voluntary and private organisations together to:-

1. Provide Opportunities
2. Improve Their Conditions
3. Promote Their Voice
4. Protect Their Interests

1.3 Introduction

The planning, co-ordination and delivery of these conferences have been undertaken by Voices from Care Cymru in consultation with the National Assembly for Wales, Children and Families Division. All local authorities in Wales have been encouraged to send children and young people to these conferences. Very thorough preparation was undertaken in the planning of these events. The lead co-ordinator from Voices from Care Cymru is Eugene Rourke.

Recognising the importance of education and school attendance, Voices From Care Cymru organised the Conferences to be held during school holidays. One Conference took place during the summer half term and the other during the autumn half-term holiday.

The South Wales conference took place on May 8th 2001 at the University of Wales Cyncoed Conference Centre, Cardiff. The North Wales Event took place on October 26th 2001 at the Oriel House Hotel, St Asaph, North Wales.

1.4 Feedback and Follow-up

Voices from Care Cymru are providing detailed feedback from these events to the National Assembly for Wales both in this report and by providing copies of the original feedback gained in the workshop sessions.

In addition, a number of young people who attended the conferences express their interest in having a continuing involvement in monitoring the Children First initiative. Young People clearly welcomed the opportunity that had been offered to them through these events. It is hoped that an ongoing process can be developed with these interested young people to maintain communication on their first-hand experiences of the Children First initiative.

SECTION 2:

A SUMMARY OF THE KEY MESSAGES

VOICES FROM CARE CYMRU

CHILDREN WHAT?

A Summary of the Key Messages

2.1 Introduction

Voices from Care Cymru organised two conferences to consult with children and young people about The National Assembly for Wales Children First programme. One conference was held in South Wales and one in North Wales. Looked After Children from all local authority areas were invited. A total of 97 children and young people were involved. A summary of the Children First targets were prepared by Voices From Care and a copy of this is attached.
Both Conferences were very successful with good participation and a very positive and supportive atmosphere. Everyone was really pleased to be involved. Many pages of flipchart paper were filled with young people’s responses.

The key messages on the Children First targets are as follows:

2.2 Education

· The first choice for children and young people is to be in school. We want to go to school like everyone else and get qualifications.
· The Children First education targets are too low. Why shouldn’t our target be for 5 GCSEs? Expectations and hopes should be the same as for others.
· Extra support helps.
· Not everyone knows what help can be given.
· An educational psychologist and a counsellor really helped one young person. This help should be easily available.
· Schools should send work home if a young person is not in school.
· The shortage of Social Workers affects education.
· A number of children and young people have missed months and even more than a year of education. It is really hard to try and catch up after missing so much.
· It makes a big difference if you have help from your carers.
· Few care leavers go to college and for those who do start, it is very hard to stay in college. It is hard to get funding and they have nowhere to stay out of term time.
· More young people would like to go to college.

2.3. Complaints

Not everyone had heard of the complaints process.
· Of those who had, half did not understand it.
· None felt that it worked for them.
· Everyone thought it is important that there should be a way to complain.

2.4. Placements and Planning.

· Everyone, except one, had moved placements during the last year.
· The average number of moves was 6 during the last year.
· One young person had moved nine times in the last year.
· One young person has had a total of seventeen moves to now.
· There were lots of reasons given for moving e.g. behaviour, crime, running away and isolation.
· The message is that no one looks at the causes of these problems.
· Changing placements causes a lot of disruption to school.
· A good placement needs to be in the right place and for there to be support for children and carers.
· You should have your own room and be made to feel welcome.
· The Children First target seems unlikely to be met.

2.5. Offending

· The target to reduce offending can work, but it will need support for young people.
· The messages on the other targets are important in affecting offending.

2.6. Advocacy and Independent Visitors

· Less than half of us have access to advocacy or independent visitors.
· Everyone understands what they do.
· Some said they would go to their reviews if they could have someone independent with them.
· Everyone felt it is worth having an advocacy service.

2.7. Health

· Not everyone has had health checks.
· Not everyone is registered with a dentist.
· Health is not promoted.
· More health information needs to be given out, e.g. a confidential text and phone line in Anglesey.
· Professionals need training in working with young people.
· We are interested in more preventative health care and in natural therapies.
· We want more information and choice about health checks.

2.8. Leaving Care

· The target is not happening now.
· You need to raise expectations much earlier, e.g. about going to college.
· We need to have a package of support to stay in college.
· Why aren’t there higher targets for further education?
· There should be more care leavers in education or work.
· We need to be more involved.

2.9. What Should happen?

· Involve children and young people fully.
· Have stable placements. This is the most important as it influences everything.
· Have high expectations, e.g. qualifications, college.
· Advocacy/ support workers for all young people.
· Tackle bullying.
· Encourage peer support.
· A choice for young people on who to turn to for help.
· Counselling.
· Privacy.
· Provide homes for young people who end up homeless.
· Not blaming young people and seeing them as bad.
· PLEASE LET US BE INVOLVED.

2.10. Summary

Voices From Care is very pleased that the National Assembly for Wales gave this opportunity to consult with Looked After Children. The messages show that people were grateful for a chance to have their say and responded really well. More details are provided in the full conference report but these Key Messages give an overview of the views.
Some young people wrote poems at the conferences. Perhaps these are even better at explaining the messages. Some are included below.
We think this was an important and valuable process. We hop you agree.

3. The South Wales Conference.

3.1. Introduction/ Preparation.

Voices From Care Cymru wrote to all local authorities in South and Mid Wales inviting them to send Looked After Children and Young People to the South Wales Conference. Local authorities were asked to make whatever arrangements were needed for the transporting and support for young people to attend the event. The Conference was held on May 8th, 2001. There was a very good response from the local authorities. A total of 49 children and young people attended the Conference and they were from most of the South Wales local authorities. This was an excellent response as it allowed a good number of people from different local authorities to all meet together. Voices from Care Cymru appreciated the interest and practical arrangements provided by local authorities and voluntary organisations in making this event possible.

3.2. The Programme

Jane Hutt, A.M., the National Assembly Minister for Health and Social Care, attended the Conference and spoke to children and young people about Children First.

The programme for the day was carefully planned to allow
· Sharing of information about the Children First initiative.
· An interactive drama to engage young people in participating.
· Workshops to discuss the Children First targets.
· Multi-media workshops to express the messages from young people.
· Feedback from all the workshops.

3.3. Information about Children First.

Voices from Care Cymru and the young people were pleased to welcome Jane Hutt AM Minister for Health and Social Services. MS Hutt spoke directly to young people in a very effective speech which conveyed the interest that the National Assembly for Wales has in Looked After Children an its clear commitment to help improve their circumstances. This speech was very well received. It was very welcome that such a senior member of the Welsh Government would give time to speak directly to Children and Young People.

Following Jane Hutt’s message, Neil Surman spoke to young people informing them of his Division’s interest in working to assist Looked After Children and in achieving the Children First targets. A very positive message was given about the wish to be informed by Looked After Children themselves about their experiences and their thoughts on the Children First Programme. Mr Surman advised the conference was the first time that the National Assembly for Wales had directly engaged with Looked After Children in hearing their views.

Most young people attending the conference had not heard of Children First before this event.

Voices from Care Cymru had prepared packs for everyone attending the Conference with information about Children First and the Targets.

3.4. The Interactive Drama Presentation

Theatr Fforwm Cymru then led this part of the programme. They began by acting out a drama for the conference. This drama was drawn directly from one young person’s experience of becoming Looked After and their experiences at that time. This was a very powerful drama and skilfully enacted. After the initial presentation, one of the actors developed a dialogue with the audience testing out and exploring what had happened to all involved. This encouraged Children and young people in the audience to participate in a discussion about what had happened and also to reflect on what could have made a difference. Different outcomes were considered and young people were very interested in participating and in acting out with the Drama Company how difficult problems could have been resolved in a more child-friendly way.

The interactive drama session was appreciated and enjoyed by the participants and it is thought that it definitely contributed to preparing people to go into their own workshop sessions. All involved handled the very sensitive matters discussed through the drama very well.

3.5. The Children First Discussion Workshops.

After a short break, children and young people went to their workshops. The workshops were grouped under the main targets of the Children First Programme,
i.e.

· Health.
· Education.
· Placements and Planning.
· Youth Justice.
· Leaving Care.

Young people were able to choose which workshops they attended and these preferences had been recorded earlier in the day. There was particular interest in the Education workshop with the majority of young people attending this. However, all workshops had a good number of young people involved.

Voices from Care Cymru had thoroughly planned the process to be followed in each workshop. The workshop leaders were provided with icebreakers, exercises, a case study and key questions. All the workshops used the icebreakers, which were useful ways of engaging young people as a group. The use of other materials varied depending on the discussion generated in the group. It is clear from the feedback that all the workshop groups were very effective in encouraging the participation of young people and gathering their views.

All young people were asked how achievable the targets are and what could be done to help in achieving them. The details of the feedback are provided in section 5. There were plenty of ideas generated in these workshops and the workshop leaders were able to agree with their groups the key messages that they wished to send to the National Assembly for Wales.

After these workshops there was a lunch break.

3.6. The Multi Media Workshops

During the lunch break, workshop leaders wrote up the key messages from each of the Children First discussion groups.
These were given on flipcharts to the workshop leaders for the afternoon session. The purpose of the afternoon workshops was to represent the messages from children and young people in a variety of ways. Young people were given the choice of participating in either

· Drama
· Art
· Music
· Creative Writing

Again, young people were able to choose which multi-media workshop they attended.

These workshops were greatly enjoyed by young people. They were able to use the key messages from the morning’s activities to inspire their presentations. Rich and varied messages came from these workshops.
As there was a lot of similarities in the views and responses in North and South Wales, the feedback from the South Wales Conference has been added to the North Wales comments and these are presented in section 5.

3.7 Presentations from the Workshops

After the workshops, everyone returned to the main Conference Room and all the groups presented what they had done.
Two very large wallboards had been cleverly painted to express the messages of he morning’s workshops.
The Drama Workshop acted out a play that had been developed that afternoon to illustrate the views of young people. Theatr Fforwm Cymru assisted in this play, but most of the parts were excellently played by young people, showing they have real talent for this. The play proved to be a powerful way of sharing ideas and feelings.
This was well received by all the audience.
Finally, the music workshop presented their feedback. The messages from the morning had been adapted to lyrics and, and, using two decks to provide backing, this group sang and rapped their contribution. This proved very popular and effective.

Neil Surman thanked all involved for such interesting and helpful feedback and for their participation throughout the day.

Debbie Jones, Director of Voices From Care Cymru, also thanked all involved and thanked the National Assembly for Wales for making the Conference possible.

Many young people expressed their wish to continue to be involved in consultation about Children First. The opportunity to be involved was really appreciated.

SECTION 4:

THE NORTH WALES CONFERENCE:

HELD AT THE ORIEL HOUSE HOTEL, St. ASAPH, DENBIGHSHIRE

4. The North Wales Conference

4.1.Introduction/ Preparation

Voices from Care wrote to all local authorities in North Wales inviting them to send Looked After Children and young people to the North Wales conference. Local authorities were asked to make whatever arrangements were needed for the transporting and support for young people to attend the event. The Conference was held on October 26th, 2001. There was a very good response from local authorities and a total of 48 children and young people attended the conference. They came from most of the authorities in North Wales.

Voices from Care Cymru arranged a number of meetings with some North Wales members in advance of the conference. This allowed time to prepare for the workshops and to finalise the plans for the day. This assistance was valuable and contributed to the success of the day.

4.2. The Programme

9.30 am Coffee & Registration- (sign up for workshops)

10.00 am Welcome to Voices From Care and Children First
Neil Surman

10.20 am Drama Presentation

11.00 am Workshops on the children First Targets

12.30 pm Lunch- (fill in questionnaires)

1.35 pm Afternoon briefing

1.45 pm Creative Workshops

3.50 pm Workshop Tour & Presentations

4.20 pm Conclusion- (collect questionnaires & Comment Forms)

4.40 pm Goodbyes

Morning Workshops

Leaving Care
Health
Education
Placements

Afternoon Workshops

Art
Drama
Music
Creative Writing

4.3 Information about Children First

All children and young people were given information packs about Children First on their arrival at the conference and posters stating the Targets were displayed.

There was a helpful presentation on Children First given by Neil Surman of the Children and Families Division of the Welsh Assembly. This explained the government’s wish t improve the circumstances of Looked After Children. Mr Surman spoke too of the Assembly’s message of wanting to hear directly from the children and young people about their views and experiences. He explained that the “Children What?” conferences were the first time that the Welsh Assembly had directly consulted with Looked After Children.

Very few children had heard of Children First before the conference.

4.4. The Interactive Drama Presentation.

Theatr Fforwm Cymru then led this part of the programme. They began by acting out a drama for the conference. This drama was drawn directly from one young person’s experience of becoming Looked After and their experiences at that time and had been developed as part of the preparatory work for the conference.
This was a very powerful drama and skilfully enacted. After the initial presentation, one of the actors developed a dialogue with the audience testing out and exploring what had happened to all involved. This encouraged Children and young people in the audience to participate in a discussion about what had happened and also to reflect on what could have made a difference.
Different outcomes were considered and young people were very interested in participating and in acting out with the Drama Company how things could have been resolved in a more child friendly way.
Both North and South Wales audiences were really interested and involved by the plays and the following discussions.

This interactive drama session was appreciated and enjoyed by the participants and it is thought that it definitely contributed to preparing people to go into their workshop sessions. All involved handled the very sensitive matters discussed through the drama very well.

4.5 The Children First Discussion Workshops.

After a short break, children and young people went to their workshops. The workshops were grouped under the main targets of the Children First Programme,
i.e.

· Health
· Education
· Placements and Planning
· Youth Justice
· Leaving Care

Young People were able to choose which workshops they attended and these preferences had been recorded earlier in the day. All workshops had a good number of young people involved.
Voices from Care Cymru had thoroughly planned the process to be followed in each workshop. The workshop leaders were provided with icebreakers, exercises, a case study and key questions. All the workshops used the icebreakers, which were useful ways of engaging young people as a group. The use of the other materials varied depending on the discussion generated in the group. It is clear from the feedback that all the workshop groups were very effective in encouraging the participation of young people and gathering their views.
All young people were asked how achievable the targets are and what could be done to help in achieving them. The details of the feedback are provided in section 5. There were plenty of ideas generated in these workshops and the workshop leaders were able to agree with their groups the key messages that they wished to send to the National Assembly for Wales.

After these workshops there was a lunch break.

4.6 The Multi-media Workshops

During the lunch break workshop leaders wrote up the key messages from each of the Children First discussion groups. These were given on flip charts to the workshop leaders for the afternoon session.
The purpose of the afternoon workshops was to represent the messages from children and young people in a variety of ways. Young people were given the choice of participating in either
· Drama
· Art
· Music
· Creative writing.

Again young people were able to choose which multi media workshop they attended.

These workshops were greatly enjoyed by young people. They were able to use key messages from the morning’s activities to inspire their presentations. Rich and varied messages came from these workshops.
There was consistency on the messages from both conferences and so the feedback from the South Wales Conference has been added to the North Wales Comments and these are presented in section 5.

4.7. Presentations from the workshops

After the workshops, everyone returned to the main Conference Room and all the groups presented what they had done.

The Art workshop group had produced two huge wallboards illustrating the messages of the Conference. These were very creative and skilfully painted.
The Drama workshop then fed back by staging a short play relevant to Looked After Children’s experiences. Although Theatr Fforwm Cymru was invoved, young people did most of the acting, very effectively. This was a powerful and effective way of sharing ideas. It was very well received.

Next, the Creative Writing group shared their poems. These poems had all been written at the workshop. They followed the messages from the morning and the writer’s views were expressed clearly and movingly. They were very well written. Everyone was touched by the honesty and emotion in the poems.

Finally the music workshop presented their contribution. The group had developed the messages of the morning into songs. Two decks were used to provide background music and individuals and groups from the workshop shared a number of new songs and rap lyrics that they had written during the afternoon.

All the children and young people showed real creative skill. Their presentations were really entertaining and appreciated.

Neil Surman then thanked all involved for such interesting and helpful feedback and for their participation throughout the day.

Debbie Jones, the Director of Voices From Care Cymru, also thanked everyone for their contribution and thanked the National Assembly for Wales for making the Conference possible.

Children and young people said on their evaluation forms that they enjoyed the day and many said they would like to continue to be involved.

SECTION 5:

CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE’S VIEWS ON THE CHILDREN FIRST TARGETS.

5.1 Feedback From The Case Studies

All the morning workshop groups were asked to consider a case study. Voices From Care Cymru as a way of illustrating the Children First Targets had prepared this.

Two different situations were presented; one of a 16 year old young person who is Looked After and has experienced more than twelve changes of placement, (Lesley N), and one of a 16 year old young person who has been living in the same foster home for three years (Lesley W).
After carefully considering the two situations, young people were asked to discuss the likely experiences of these two characters. The responses to the case studies show young peoples thoughts.

(YES- children agree with the statement.
MAYBE- children were not sure, with varying responses.
NO- children disagreed with the statement.)

Lesley N. ……. More than 12 placement moves.

Lesley N. has had more than 12 changes of placement since being in care.
She is currently living in an unstable foster placement where she is unhappy, since she is used to being in residential care. YES

She feels uncomfortable in someone else’s home and being made to feel grateful to them, knowing they are being paid to have her in their home. YES

Lesley N. rarely attends her own reviews. When she is invited, she isn’t listened to and feels her wishes are not taken on board. YES

Therefore, Lesley N. is not involved in making any decisions about her own life. YES

Lesley N. doesn’t have any access to an independent adult and she doesn’t know how to use the Complaints Procedure. MAYBE

She has not seen her natural father for three years due to losing contact with him.
She has been denied contact to her birth mother for 6 months and does not see her brothers or sisters. YES

Lesley N. hasn’t been registered with a G.P. for a year and has not seen a dentist since she has been in care. YES

She is suffering from serious clinical depression and a drink problem. YES

She is also abusing solvents and has been known to hang around places where hard drugs are circulating. YES

She has requested counselling on numerous occasions over the last two years but is still waiting for an appointment. MAYBE

She is 16 years old and has missed a lot of school. MAYBE

Lesley N. felt she was always treated differently in school and excluded from school activities because she is in care. This is partly why she decided to stop going to school. NO

She has no qualifications and has no idea of how to apply for a job. YES

Lesley N. will be leaving care in a week and will have no ongoing support from her foster carers or social services. She feels she has few life skills to help her survive independently. YES

She has had few discussions with people about leaving care and has very little idea of what she will be doing when she leaves care. YES

Lesley W…..In the same foster placement for several years

Lesley W. has been in a stable foster placement for several years. Her foster parents have been well trained to meet her needs. MAYBE

She has had no more than three changes of placement since becoming Looked After and has a care plan, which is followed stringently. NO

She attends all her reviews and feels she is being listened to in all major decisions that are made about her life. NO

Lesley W. can see an independent adult and has access to the complaints procedure. She has been involved with other young people in drawing up the procedure. MAYBE

Lesley W. is registered with a G.P and a dentist. YES

She has regular health checks with them both and is in good health. YES

She has never committed an offence. YES

She has never taken drugs or abused alcohol. YES

Lesley W. attends school regularly and her education is always discussed in her reviews. She is supported and encouraged in all matters to do with her education from attendance to academic success. YES

She is doing the same things educationally as her friends. MAYBE

Lesley W. is confident about leaving care because she has discussed it at great length with the people involved. Her care plan covers further education, career options, employment, development of life-skills etc. She is fully satisfied that her views are being taken on board in her reviews. NO

Summary on the case studies

Responses to the case studies showed how much children value stable and caring placements. This was thought to be influential in all other aspects of a child’s experiences.
Even with this important support, children were not confident about being fully involved in their reviews or in the decisions taken about their lives or that their care plans would be carefully followed.

5.2 THE KEY MESSAGES ON THE CHILDREN FIRST TARGETS.

Placements and Planning

CHILDREN FIRST TARGET: NO MORE THAN 10% OF CHILDREN LOOKED AFTER SHOULD HAVE THREE OR MORE PLACEMENTS BY 2002.

· Everyone, except one, had moved placements during the last year.
· The average number of moves was 6 during the last year.
· One young person had moved 9 times in the last year.
· One young person has had 17 moves to now.
· There were lots of reasons given for moving e.g. behaviour, crime, running away & isolation.
· The message was that no one looks for the cases of these problems.
· Changing placements causes a lot of disruption to school.
· A good placement needs to be in the right place and for there to be support for children and carers.
· You should have your own room and be made to feel welcome.

· No- one questioned the importance of this target and all agreed fewer moves are really important.

· Children and young people thought there is not enough consideration of why placements breakdown.

· Their experiences made them think this Target is not likely to be met.

Education

CHILDREN FIRST TARGET: AT LEAST 50% OF CHILDREN LEAVING CARE AGED 16 OR OVER TO HAVE MORE THAN TWO G.C.S.E./ G.N.V.Q’S BY 2002 AND 75% BY 2003.

· The first choice for children and young people is to be in school. We want to go to school like everyone else and get qualifications.
· The Children First education targets are too low. Why shouldn’t our target be for 5 G.C.S.E’ s? Expectations and hopes should be the same as for others.
· Extra support helps.
· Not everyone knows what help can be given.
· An Educational Psychologist and a counsellor really helped one young person. This help should be easily available.
· Schools should send work home if a young person is not in school.
· The shortage of Social Workers affects education.
· A number of children and young people have missed months and even more than a year of education. It is really hard to try and catch up after missing so much.
· It makes a big difference if you have help from your carers.
· Few go to college and for those who do start, it is very hard to stay in college. More young people would like to go.

There were clear messages that all young people want to succeed in school, but that many of them are missing substantial time in school and experiencing disruption to their education.

Young people who had received good support from carers or specialists, e.g. educational psychologists, found this to be very helpful.

The great majority of children at the Conferences want the Target to be higher and to be 5 G.C.S.E. Grades A-C.

Health

CHILDREN FIRST TARGET: 100% OF CHILDREN LOOKED AFTER TO HAVE APPROPRIATE HEALTH CHECKS

· Not everyone has had heath checks.
· Not everyone is registered with a dentist.
· Health is not promoted.
· More health information needs to be given out, e.g. a confidential text and phone line in Anglesey.
· Professionals need training in working with young people.
· We are interested in more preventative health care and natural therapies.
· We want more information and choice about health checks.

Children and young people want to have more access to information on health issues.

They would welcome more choice about health checks.

Changes of placement, carers and social worker make continuity of health care difficult.

All agreed with the aim of the Target, but their experiences made them question if it will be achieved.

Offending

CHILDREN FIRST TARGET: TO REDUCE BY 10% THE RELATIVE OF OFFENDING BY CHILDREN LOOKED AFTER IN EACH AUTHORITY AREA.

· The target to reduce offending can work, but it will need support for young people.
· The messages on the other targets are important in affecting offending.

Young people said they were more likely to become involved in offending since being Looked After.

They thought that more help in achieving the Placement Moves and Education Targets were the best way of reducing offending.

Their experiences made them think that this target is unlikely to be met.

Leaving Care

CHILDREN FIRST TARGET: THE LEVEL OF EMPLOYMENT, TRAINING OR EDUCATION AMONGST YOUNG PEOPLE AGED 19 IN 2001- 2002 WHO WERE LOOKED AFTER IN THEIR 17TH YEAR TO BE AT LEAST 60% OF THE LEVEL AMONGST ALL YOUNG PEOPLE OF THE SAME AGE LIVING IN THE SAME AUTHORITY AREA.
· The target is not happening now.
· You need to raise expectations much earlier. E.g. about going to college.
· We need to have a package of support to stay in college.
· Why aren’t there targets for further education?
· There should be more care leavers in education or work.
· You need to be more involved.

There was clear support for the aim of having more care leavers in education, training or work.

There was a strong message that it is too late to start thinking` `about further education at the age of 14 or 15. Young people said that working towards his goal should take place at all stages of education, including in junior school.

Messages were also given that Care Leavers need additional support to succeed in further education as they are unlikely to have accommodation during the vacations and will have little/ no practical or financial help.

All young people agreed with the importance of further education, training or employment for care leavers. They were not optimistic about the Children First Target being achieved. In spite of this, they thought that the Target should be higher so that the aims for care leavers should be more equal to their peers.

5.3 COMPLAINTS, ADVOCACY AND INDEPENDENT VISITORS

Children and young people were also consulted about issues important to their lives.

Complaints

· Not everyone had heard of the Complaints Procedure.
· Of those who had, half did not understand it.
· None felt that it worked for them.

Everyone thought it is important that there should be a way to complain.

Advocacy and independent Visitors

· Less than half of us have access to advocacy or independent visitors.
· Everyone understands what they do.
· Some said they would go to their reviews if they could have someone independent with them.
· Everyone felt it is worth having an advocacy service.

Children and young people see the Complaints Procedure, Advocacy services and Independent Visitors as important safeguards in their lives.

They want these services to help them be heard in their reviews and if things go wrong.

5.4 WHAT SHOULD HAPPEN?

· Involve children and young people fully.
· Have stable placements. This is most important as it influences everything.
· Have high expectations, e.g. qualifications, college.
· Advocacy/ support workers for all young people.
· Tackle bullying
· Encourage Peer support.
· A choice for young people about who to turn to for help.
· Counselling
· Privacy
· Provide homes for young people who end up homeless.
· Not blaming young people and seeing them as bad.
· PLEASE LET US BE INVOLVED

SECTION 6:

CONCLUSION

The “Children What?” Conferences were a step into the unknown as they were the first time that the National Assembly for Wales had commissioned direct consultation with Looked After Children and Young People. They came from the recognition that Looked After Children and Young People had a valuable and unique perspective to bring in commenting on the Children First Targets.

The Conferences generated good participation and enjoyment. They were planned to encourage equal opportunities for all. There was good respect for each other and a very positive atmosphere. They were very productive but they were also fun.

The North and South Wales Conferences answered a number of questions:

· Looked After children and young people are interested in commenting on the implementation of government policy;
· They are willing and interested in participating in discussions about the Children First Targets;
· They are able to develop formal feedback to express their views;
· They enjoy participating in interactive drama productions about difficult issues;
· They can produce powerful multi media presentations of their messages;
· There is a lot of creative talent;
· They would welcome further opportunities to be involved in consultations.

The over- riding messages from children and young people express their wish for government and their carers to be more ambitious for them.

The comment was often made about what natural parents expect for their children, such as 5 G.C.S.E. Grades A-C and involvement in education or training after the age of 16.

Looked after children and young people clearly said their hopes and dreams are the same as all children. They hope for stability, qualifications, careers and successful independence.

They need government and politicians to share these ambitions and to recognise that additional efforts and resources will be needed to achieve them. They hope for a difference now not years in the future when many of today’s Looked After Young People will have moved on.

Successful placement stability was seen as an essential foundation for meeting other targets. Living in a safe and supportive environment was identified as the most important thing for children and young people.

Education was also very important to children and young people. Too many children at the Conferences spoke of missing months and even years of their education after becoming Looked After. There was recognition that extra educational support and interested carers can help to make up for times of disruption or change of school. Young people saw educational qualifications as their best chance of successful independence.

Children First was seen as very important in setting out Targets for local authorities as parents. The message from the Conferences is a wish for the Targets to be more ambitious and for local authorities to share natural parent’s hopes for their children.

What I live for

I live for something rare and true,
I’m looking for the words so I can tell you.
It contains love and happiness.
The things that we really miss.

Some hearts are made out of gold
But others are like stone so hard and cold.
Behind their closed locked doors
They’re screaming out but nobody knows.

The feelings of anger they lock up inside.
It’s so hard to push these feelings aside
When you go to sleep at night
You see the birds in circles flight.

And when you awaken the following day
You feel lost like the needle dropped in hay.

I live for something rare and true.
I’ve found these words to give to you.

Young person-Creative Writing Workshop
Age 16