Children have their say on state of social care in England

The Children’s care monitor report for 2009 has been published by the Children’s Rights Director for England. In the report children give their views on the state of social care in England.

Over 1,000 children took part in this year’s care monitor. The youngest was aged five and the oldest was a care leaver aged 23. Thirty-eight per cent were aged 13 or under and 62 percent were aged 14 or over. Eight per cent were aged 18 or over. Fifty-two per cent were boys and 48 percent were girls.

Children were asked about how safe they felt in different places. The research found that overall as found last year children felt safest in the building where they live, next safest at their school or college and next safest in the countryside and least safe in towns or cities. Children were also asked what they saw as the biggest danger to people their age. Knives have moved up the danger list from last year with an increase from 6 to 11 percent of children listing this as the biggest danger. The percentage listing gangs went up from 1 percent from last year to 6 percent and drugs had decreased from 27 to 21 percent and alcohol from 17 to 14 percent from last year.

The research also asked children about bullying and found that nine per cent of children said they are being bullied often or always and 69 percent say they are hardly or never bullied. Forty-five per cent said they are never bullied. The research also found that there is slightly more worrying about bullying than actual bullying with fifteen per cent of children often or always worried about getting bullied, while 66 percent never or hardly ever worry about it.

Children were also asked about whether their opinions were asked about things. The research found that in 2009 children have reported a slight drop from 2008 in how often their opinions were asked about things that mattered to them. 50 percent said their opinions were usually or always asked on things that mattered to them. This was down from 55 percent last year. Sixteen per cent said their opinions were not usually or never asked, an increase on last year’s figure of 14 percent.

The research also asked children whether their opinions made a difference to decision-making about their lives. 48 percent of children and young people said their opinions usually or always made a difference to decisions about their lives, while 18 percent said their opinions didn’t usually or ever make a difference. The figures are close to those from last year at 49 and 16 percent. The report also found that children and young people in care and living in foster care or children’s homes are the most likely to be asked for their opinions, and those living in boarding schools are the least likely.

Fri, 04/12/2009 - 16:06