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Supporting spirituality for children and young people in state care. Dr. Annabel Goodyer. Education: 15% obtain 5 GCSE’s at A-C grades, including maths & English, compared to 58% in the general population (2011) School-leavers: 18% unemployed compared to 4%
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Supporting spirituality for children and young people in state care Dr. Annabel Goodyer
Education: 15% obtain 5 GCSE’s at A-C grades, including maths & English, compared to 58% in the general population (2011) • School-leavers: 18% unemployed compared to 4% • Criminal activity: 7% (aged 10-17) compared to 2% in the general population received a conviction or police warning • 4.3 per cent were identified as having a substance misuse problem during the year. 65,500 children in English state care: vulnerabilities
‘Resilient children are better equipped to resist stress and adversity, cope with change and uncertainty, and to recover faster and more completely from t traumatic events or episodes’ (Newman & Blackburn 2001:1) Using resilience theory to enhance life-chances A. Goodyer lsbu
Social Causation factors : Newman & Blackburn in Golightly 2004) • Strong Extended Family • Successful Schooling • Network of friends • Member of religious community • Having a role outside family: sport, clubs, hobbies etc. Spirituality supports resilience A. Goodyer lsbu
Placements [Care Standards Act 2000] Health and education • Child at the centre • - Care Planning (Vol.2) • - Sufficiency Duty • Principles: • mirrors journey through care • timeliness and permanence • maintain parental involvement • cycle of: assessment, planning, intervention, review One, integrated care plan! • Fostering (Vol. 4) • Children’s Homes (vol. 5) • Promoting health • Promoting education • Designated teacher - Notification; Registration - National Minimum Standards Voice of the child Related duties for vulnerable children • Care leavers • - Planning Transitions to Adulthood for care leavers (Vol. 3) • PA to 25 • Short breaks • Visits to former LAC in detention • children in long term residential care • Family & Friends • Placements by vol. orgs. • IRO Handbook • Lead Member and DCS • Effective Advocacy Fitting the Pieces Together: DfE 2011 . Legal underpinnings: - Children Act 1989 - International obligations
CSWR evaluated the funded welfare projects of 4 London groups(AFRUCA, CCPAS, Congolese Family Centre, Victoria Climbie Association) , from 2007-11 • Explored how they had worked to educate, support and offer expertise on witchcraft & spirit possession Centre for Social Work Research (CSWR2011): witchcraft projects
Belief in witchcraft & possession are widespread, but rarely harmful • Faith organisations are largely seen as offering support & advice to immigrants who face poverty & inequality in the wider community • Safeguarding procedures can be effective if parents or church leaders perform acts of deliverance which inflict harm and/or trauma on the child • Unscrupulous faith leaders are in a position to exploit vulnerable individuals CSWR Findings
Through dialogue • Practically • Affirming life choices • Maintaining links with the child /young persons family culture and beliefs Supporting spirituality in social work practice
Centre for Social Work Research (2011) Safeguarding Children’s Rights: Exploring issues of witchcraft and spirit possession in London’s African communities http://www.trustforlondon.org.uk/Safeguarding%20final%20report.pdf DfE 2011 Care into practice: the legal framework for looked after children and care leavers, London TSO Golightly, M 2004 Social Work and Mental Health Exeter, Learning Matters References