Search results for ‘Subject term:"vulnerable children"’ Sort:
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Access denied: a teenager's pathway through the mental health system
- Authors:
- ABDINASIR Kadra, PONA Iryna
- Publisher:
- Children's Society
- Publication year:
- 2015
- Pagination:
- 69
- Place of publication:
- London
Examines how vulnerable groups of young people such as victims of abuse and neglect or children in care access Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS). The report makes wide-ranging recommendations to the Government and local decision-makers. The report shows that only one quarter of providers of specialist mental health services have clear policies to ensure that referrals of looked after children – a group of children who have special status – are followed through adequately at all stages of the process, including when they transition to adult services. And less than half of trusts have clear pathways set up for referrals of children who have experienced sexual exploitation. The research identifies a number of factors which contribute to this, including the lack of clear national guidance, variations in what local data is available and different interpretations of what additional vulnerabilities need to be taken into account when a referral of a young person is assessed. The report makes a number of recommendations, including: developing waiting time standards; improving access to specialist mental health services for vulnerable groups; and strengthening collaboration between agencies. (Edited publisher abstract)
Crumbling futures: why vulnerable 16 and 17 year olds need more support as they move into adulthood
- Authors:
- PONA Iryna, TURNER Alexandra
- Publisher:
- Children's Society
- Publication year:
- 2018
- Pagination:
- 109
- Place of publication:
- London
This report explores the level of vulnerability in the 16 and 17 year old population, specifically focusing on those referred to children’s services and assessed as being a child in need or who become subject to child protection plan. It draws on findings from a literature review; data gathering through Freedom of Information requests; interviews with young people; and data from the longitudinal Understanding Society household survey. The report shows that: the mental health needs of children and young people appear to be one of the main issues affecting older adolescents as they progress into adulthood; other vulnerabilities include: drug use, going missing from home, sexual or other forms of exploitation, and domestic violence; for the most vulnerable young people, the risks and vulnerabilities they face are present in their lives through their adolescence, remain present in early adulthood, are usually complex and multiple in nature and affect them in different aspects of their lives. A significant proportion (1 in 3) had been known to children’s services before they turned 16. The report finds that there is very little evidence of young people who are children in need receiving support during the transition to adulthood, with the exception of children with disabilities, young carers and care leavers. The report makes a number of recommendations, including: using the children in need review to propose changes for how 16 and 17 year olds who are children in need are supported into adulthood; ensuring that children aged 16 and 17 years old who are referred to children’s services are not dismissed without an assessment of their needs; making transition planning a statutory requirement in every child in need and child protection plan for children aged 16 and 17; allocating adequate additional resources to local authorities; and designing and planning services around transition. (Edited publisher abstract)
On your own now: the risks of unsuitable accommodation for older teenagers
- Authors:
- CRELLIN Richard, PONA Iryna
- Publisher:
- Children's Society
- Publication year:
- 2015
- Pagination:
- 64
- Place of publication:
- London
This report looks at the lives of 16 and 17 year olds who cannot live at home with their families and the risks they face when they are placed in accommodation provided by their local authority, intended to prepare them to live independently as adults. The report is based on an analysis of the sufficiency strategies of 102 local authorities, a survey with 118 providers of accommodation in 83 local authorities in England and focus groups with 11 young people who have experience of living in accommodation designed to prepare them for independence at the age of 16 or 17. The survey of accommodation providers included supported accommodation, foyers, supported lodgings, floating tenancy support and training flats. The findings focus on the risks these vulnerable young people face, the support they receive, how they are safeguarded, local authorities’ forward planning when commissioning these types of services and critically how things change when they turn 18 and become independent adults. Case studies are included throughout. Risks identified included substance misuse, mental health and wellbeing, poverty, and eviction and unplanned moves. Local authorities failed to sufficiently plan accommodation for 16 to 17 year olds. Accommodation providers were unlikely to be integrated into local structures designed to safeguard children or staff employed often had no safeguarding qualifications. The report argues that the complex variety of different provisions for looking after these vulnerable young people combined with support, care and living arrangements that are not subject to enough scrutiny by the state have resulted in a situation which is damaging young people lives in ways that stay with them well into adult life. The report makes specific recommendations for central and local government, accommodation providers and other agencies. (Edited publisher abstract)
Seriously awkward: how vulnerable 16 and 17 year olds are falling through the cracks
- Authors:
- PONA Iryna, et al
- Publisher:
- Children's Society
- Publication year:
- 2015
- Pagination:
- 119
- Place of publication:
- London
Explores the issues that vulnerable 16–17 year olds face and analyses the barriers in legal protection and service provision that prevent them from accessing the support they need and too often leaves them at risk of harm and neglect. The report estimates that half a million 16 and 17 year olds face particular risk of harm because they are already dealing with multiple issues such as poverty, poor health or a lack of supportive relationships. The report is based on: analysis of the Understanding Society survey; analysis of a poll of 1,004 16–17 year olds and their parents; analysis of official data on a number of issues experienced by young people; interviews with and case studies from practitioners in The Children’s Society’s services; consultation with young people which explored the challenges faced by the most vulnerable older teenagers. The report examines in particular: protective relationships and social networks; health and well-being; risks of harm and exploitation; poverty and inequality; and future prospects. Recommendations for the government and local authorities are included. (Edited publisher abstract)
Getting the house in order: keeping homeless older teenagers safe
- Authors:
- PONA Iryna, CRELLIN Richard
- Publisher:
- Children's Society
- Publication year:
- 2015
- Pagination:
- 54
- Place of publication:
- London
Examines the experience of homeless young people in England, highlighting how they are treated by local government and shedding light on some of the difficult challenges they have to overcome to become independent adults. The study draws on findings from freedom of information responses by 259 local authorities at all tiers of local government and 74 case studies of young people who needed help because of homelessness and were supported through Children’s Society projects. The report reveals that: every year at least 12,000 vulnerable children aged 16 and 17 face the challenge of homelessness; only half of those young people who come to their councils for help with homelessness get a formal assessment of their need; only a fifth are eventually accommodated; of the young people who are sent back to their families by their local authority a tiny minority (5 percent) receive help and support to rebuild their family relationships; young people are being placed at serious risk living in unregulated accommodation, the providers of which are being paid to keep these vulnerable 16- and 17-year-olds safe. The report calls for: new multi-agency inspections of local authorities; a new legal status of a ‘vulnerable 16 and 17 year-old’; change in the law and guidance to clarify that no child should be allowed to become intentionally homeless; banning of bed and breakfasts and development of standards for supported accommodation; collection and publication of data on 16 and 17 year-olds who present as homeless at all tiers of local authorities and recording of the assessment, support and accommodation provision they received; written information to all young people about the advocacy support they are entitled to; and ensuring that returning home to live with the family should not be the end of interaction between the child, their family and services. (Edited publisher abstract)