Despite concerted attempts to improve outcomes for looked after children, evidence indicates that proportionately they have greater need and poorer outcomes than their non-looked after peers: similar to other countries, they encounter multiple placement moves; partial assessment of need; poorer educational outcomes; greater mental ill-health and variable degrees of support on leaving care. In addition, there is often a ‘disconnect’ between research-evidence and practice and a lack of congruence about how ‘need’ is identified and addressed across disciplines and geographical areas.
By bringing together academics, policy-makers and professionals from diverse disciplines, this programme sought to kick-start a national conversation about the contribution that a child developmental approach could make to improve how we address the needs of looked after children, their families and those who care for them. As well as providing an opportunity to contribute to the existing Independent Care Review, which will report directly to the First Minister, the programme sought to challenge participants to look afresh at familiar concepts and then deploy their experience to wrestle with the implications for policy and practice.
To achieve this aim, the objectives of the programme were:
- To bring together a range of stakeholders to consider current best-evidence on the antecedents and impact of childhood developmental trauma.
- To provide a reflective space where diverse stakeholders can share knowledge and explore implications for themselves and how they work with others.
- To ensure that the experiences of children, families and carers inform knowledge exchange and influence future ways of working.
- To develop communities of practice that can be supported to take forward ideas sparked by the programme.