Working with care experienced children

This chapter will briefly outline the historical and policy context which has come to shape the design of the provision of care services and subsequently impact care experienced children. It will consider the factors which have contributed to the relatively recent focus on the needs of care experienced children and examine the provisions available as a consequence of policy and legislation such as the Children (Leaving Care) Act 2000, Care Matters the Children and Young People Act 2008, the Children and Families Act 2014 and the Children and Social Work Act 2017. It will explore the complexity of issues facing children and young people who have experienced care, the current debates, the opportunities and challenges facing the families and practitioners who are working together to support them. It will also consider examples of good practice and the associated research around how best to work in an integrated way in order to ensure care experienced children, families and practitioners are well supported in early childhood settings.