Mark Bailey

Youth Advocacy

CIC Annual Questionnaire 2013

Respondents

•97 respondents aged 7 to 22

•54% male 46% female •Care population is 52% male 48% female.

•29% from minority ethnic background•Care population 13% of population

Ages

Gender and ethnicity

How do you feel about being in care? (8-17)

Good (44%)•‘Grateful for the support and help offered to me and grateful for the opportunities’•‘I feel good about being in care’

OK (26%)•‘It doesn’t bother me in the slightest’•‘Good and not so good’

Happy/sad (14%)•‘Happy but sad because I miss my family but it is alright’•‘Happy/sad I miss my Mum but I feel better here’.

Poor (10%)•‘Rubbish’•‘Want to move out. Feel sad’.

8-17

Over 18’s

All ages

14-21

Under 14’s

14-21

What can we do to support you around your education (8-17)?

• Nothing (11)• Got enough support (1): ‘Everything is put in place that I

need’• Tutor (5): ‘One to one tutoring’• Maths and English (4): ‘I would like a tutor for Maths and

English’ ‘More help in English – spellings’• Teaching assistant (1): ‘I feel I could be better supported

by a teaching assistant as part of my SEN’• Computer (1): ‘By having a computer to learn things on

and have lots of reading books’• Learning mentors (1): ‘Involve learning mentors’• Encourage (1): ‘Encourage us and also staff be more

supportive ‘

18-22

• N/A (8)

• No support needed at the moment (4): ‘I’ve got all the support I feel I need at the moment’.

• I feel well supported (4): ‘I am well supported by aftercare and connections’ ‘I received lots of help and support around education and training’

• You cant (3): ‘Good at the moment’

• Laptop/computer (1)

• Get me a better house to live in (1)

• Get me a driving license (1)

• Funding for bus passes (1)

• Funding for books and learning resources (1)

Who do you go to talk to if you have any worries about your health (8-17)?

• Carer (21)• Other relative (10)• LAC nurse (6)• Doctor (6)• Mum (6)• Teacher (4)• Social worker (3)• Never worry (3)• Talkshop/sexual health youth worker (2)• Friends (2)• Adult (2)• Keep to myself (1)• Children’s Rights Officer (1)

‘

18+

• Doctor (17)• Personal advisor/aftercare worker (4)• Mum (2)• Carer (2)• No one (4)• I don’t have any concerns about my health (1)• Friends (1)• Nurse (1)• Talkshop (1)• University health service (1)

What can we do to help you with your health (physical and emotional) (8-17)?

• Nothing (12): ‘Nothing because I have good foster parents and teachers’.

• I’m ok (6): ‘I’m ok cos Nanna looks after me’.

• Gym membership (3): ‘Let me go to the gym on my own’.

• Counselling (2): ‘Seeing CAMHS about emotional health’.

• Healthy food (2): ‘Help me eat a bit more healthy food’

• Take to doctors (1)

18-22

• Nothing at the moment (11): ‘I think I’m ok at the moment my needs are being met and I am dealing with my current health problems’.

• N/A (3)

• Counsellor (2)

• I have on-going support already (2): ‘I get lots of help and advice; sometimes I get financial support or lift to appointments’.

• Family (1)

• Need to get to know them before I speak to anyone about it (1)

• Keep in contact with me and support me (1)

Who would you contact if you needed support outside office hours (over 18’s)?

• Emergency team/EDT (14)• Family (5)• Foster carers or ex carers (2)• Social worker (2)• After care worker (2)• N/A (2)• I would talk to my friend (2)• Never needed to (1)• Email aftercare worker (1)

What’s one thing you would like to change about being in care?

• Nothing (9): ‘Everything is fine where I am living ’ ‘There is nothing. I just want to get back to my own house own rules’.

• Contact (7): ‘More contact with my siblings ’ ‘My contact - I want more sorting out.’ ‘Having more time with my Mum ’ ‘To see my real Dad’

• Normality (3) : ‘Well to be more like normal children are and give kids more things to do’ ‘Feel treated different – don’t get what 10 year olds get’ ‘Let us get GTA 5’

• Freedom (3): ‘Give me more freedom’. ‘Stay home on my own’ ‘More independent, being allowed out later at night as long as I stay in touch and have my phone on me/agreed time before hand’

• Leaving Care: (2): ‘Prepare more for leaving care’. ‘The age for being in care, make it older for people that are not ready for leaving care yet e.g. me’

• Rules (2): ‘Not being told ‘no’ all the time from carer’. ‘Not as many rules more like a real home environment’

• More placement choice (2): ‘More placements’ ‘Go to foster carers’

• Other children in placement (1): ‘Other children making the home a mess’.

• Work with birth family (1): ‘Get kids back to their family’

What’s the one thing you would like to change about aftercare?

• Nothing (10): ‘I feel aftercare is doing what they should be doing for me at this stage’. ‘Its ok’

• Driving lessons (3): ‘Support driving lessons’ ‘We need help with funding for driving lessons and tests’ ‘Nothing its good the way it is but I would like it if aftercare could get a group of care leavers together and do there driving lessons this would get us out and help us make new friends.

• Extend aftercare (3): ‘I would like the service to continue beyond 25 years old even if I don’t go to university’. ‘Make it last longer for those who need more care’.

• Transitions (1): ‘More help and support around transitions from care to independent or semi-independent living’

• Location (1): ‘Change the building’

 

Actions from consultation

• Children’s Rights Service to develop new leaflet for younger children

• CIC Council to develop new advertising materials for all ages