Why The Care System Needs Improving

As plans get under way to improve the system for children in care and ensure they receive the best possible education, Karen Spencer can say has seen the situation from both sides of the fence.

The 23-year-old works part-time for What Makes The Difference?, a national partnership which tackles issues affecting young people in care.

But a decade ago, she herself was growing up in foster and care homes and she understands first-hand some of the issues that can arise from being a youngster without a stable environment.

“When you keep getting moved on it’s hard to form relationships with people or start trusting them,” she says.

Karen entered into care when she was 12, as a result of a home environment classed as “dangerous”. She spent the next six years living in care and foster homes until, at the age of 18, she finally began to look after herself.

She lives in Welling, Kent and is currently taking a Health Studies course at Orpington College.

Her role for What Makes The Difference sees her interviewing children who are in care to gauge their opinions on their lives and how the system could be improved.

Naturally she has her own opinions. “I’d like to see the preparation given to teenagers before they leave care to be given earlier,” she suggests.

“It’s usually given at 16 – you leave care at 18 – but children aren’t prepared to listen at that age. If you start telling them earlier then they’ll make less mistakes, like not paying bills when they start living on their own.

“I’d also like to see the age that children leave care raised to 20 or 21. You do get support when you leave care but it’s sporadic and not so intense. You’re pretty much left to fend for yourself.”

Education is another aspect of being a child in care that both she and the government say needs addressing and Karen knows personally of several cases where other youngsters in her situation have suffered from not furthering their knowledge.

“I know people who’ve ended up on benefits and don’t try to get out of it. They think it’s easier than getting a job.

“A couple of girls I know got pregnant because they knew they’d get more benefits that way.

“And I know quite a few people who have ended up in young offenders’ institutes because they didn’t have a job, so they thought they would mug someone or sell drugs.”

Karen’s own teenage years were spent moving around various care homes and foster homes, which created issues which she says are common and need to be addressed.

“Some people need more help than others and some foster parents aren’t trained in those areas.

“There needs to be a better matching of children with the people they are placed with, because the result will be that they just get moved on all the time and it makes them have a very unstable life.

“I had problems at the care homes I was in, because of my behaviour, and I was moved on a lot. It meant that I couldn’t make friends easily because I didn’t know where I was going to be next week.

“But I eventually found a foster home that I stayed in for more than four years. It gave me the stability I needed.”

The result of a young life of uncertainty, says Karen, can be felt even after reaching adulthood.

“People can have a lack of confidence, a lack of trust and find it difficult to start and maintain relationships.

“When you’re in situations like job interviews it’s hard to convey what you want to.”

Karen says she is glad the government is now looking to improve the lives of those in the care system.

“The issues that exist need to be addressed and I’m pleased this is eventually happening. It could have been done sooner, but at least it’s being done now.”