NIROMP Community of Practice – disability and care experienced children & young people

Book your place for this upcoming session on: 3 December 2024, 12-1.30pm. Focus: Children in care / care leavers with a disability or long-term health condition. In collaboration with Coram Voice.

This session is being held in collaboration with Coram Voice. Hear about Coram’s latest report about disability and care experienced children an young people.

Register to attend: HERE

Support us via social media #NIROMP #CoramVoice #CareExperience

New Coram Voice report on disability and care experienced children & young people

Currently, national data on children in care and care leavers does not include information on disability / long-term health condition(s)– and there’s a lack of research in this area.

Given this gap, we are really pleased to share with you our latest report: Disability, disparity and demand: analysis of the numbers and experiences of children in care and care leavers with a disability or long-term health condition. The report is based on a Freedom of Information request sent to all local authorities in England, the views of young people and leaver care professionals and learning from the Bright Spots Programme and Coram Voice advocacy service.

Findings in brief

·       Local authorities record that 11% of children in care and 13% of care leavers have a disability, but there is lots of variation between local authorities.

·       When you ask care leavers direct 27% say they have a disability or long-term health condition and the percentage is increasing.

·       Both professionals and young people think that disabilities come in many forms and not all young people get the help they need.

Recommendations in brief:

(1)    Improve data and knowledge: Local authorities and government must improve the way they collect and report data on the types and prevalence of disabilities among children in care and care leavers. Better data, including hearing directly from young people, will allow for more effective service planning and monitoring.

(2)    Enhance policy and practice: Be curious and listen to children and young people about their disabilities and how they affect them.

Use the data and what children and young people report to design services that are better able to meet their needs, including those who do not meet thresholds for specialist services, but whose additional support needs cannot be met by existing services. Ensure staff feel confident, have the right skills and support to deliver personalised care plans and smoother transitions from care.

What can you do?

·       Read and reflect on the findings and recommendations – full report, summary and infographic summary – what action can you / your team or organisation take?

·       Invite us to speak at an event, circulate the findings to your networks and tell people about the work on social media

Keep connected with us on this issue

We’ll be sharing more resources linked to this work in the coming weeks so do have a look at our social media (TikTok, Instagram, YouTube) for short videos made be care experienced creatives exploring the findings. Also check out this blog by one of our care experienced consultants describing their reaction to the report.

 Coram Voice provide practical help and advice on supporting children in care and care leavers with a disability (training, toolkit & specialist advice) via Coram Voice’s specialist disability advocate services

We are planning some events too:

• Book your place for this upcoming session on: 3 December 2024, 12-1.30pm. Focus: Children in care / care leavers with a disability or long-term health condition. In collaboration with Coram Voice. Registrater to attend: HERE

• A Coram Society event linking the historical and contemporary experiences of care experienced young people

• A webinar to discuss the findings and practice / policy implications – Sign up to our Voices Improving Care updates to hear more about our resources and upcoming events.