1. In Care, Out of Trouble
Professor John Drew

2. Two views
“Since July 2013 I have been in 16 schools and I have been in 15 different placements all around the country … all my offending has been whilst in care.”
Young review panel member, aged 15, 25th June 2015
“These children are in our care; we the state, are their parents – and what are we setting them up for … the dole, the streets, an early grave? I tell you: this shames our country and we will put it right.”
David Cameron Prime Minister, aged 49, 7th October 2015

3. In Care, Out of Trouble
How the life chances of children in care can be transformed by protecting them from unnecessary involvement in the criminal justice system
An independent review chaired by Lord Laming for the Prison Reform Trust
The Prison Reform Trust is an independent UK charity working to create a just, humane and effective penal system.
Summary report
Full report
Literature Review ‘Risk, adverse influence and criminalisation: Understanding the over representation of looked after children in the youth justice system’ by Dr. Jo. Staines, University of Bristol

4. Voices from care
“I think young people in care just need that one person … I’ve had my Independent Visitor since I was 14 and the amount of things she done for me and the love and guidance that she’s given me is massive. She’s like a mum to me.”
“Me and my little sister were taken off my mum by social services due to drugs. They then told me my mum had been arrested and put into prison and that my dog had been put down. From then on I was automatically angry. From then on it was just an issue of me losing my temper because nobody listened to me or even bothered to care or even bothered to understand my situation.”

5. Children in trouble – the facts
94% of all looked after children do not get into trouble with the law …
… but the 6% who do are six times more likely to offend than those not in care and …
… children in care represent nearly 50% of all children currently in custody
Percentages of offending vary substantially between often neighbouring areas and …
… this cannot be explained by levels of child poverty or deprivation in areas.

6. Voices from care
“Lots of moves never an explanation or asking what I wanted or how I felt. I had seven moves between the ages ”
“It shouldn’t be like that, though. It’s sad to say I’m used to it. I shouldn’t be. It shouldn't’t be like that; I should want to stay in one place, but I don’t … I don’t think I’m ever going to settle down, just because of the care system and the way it works.”
“The care system truly saved my life.”

7. Six key outcomes
Outcome one: Strong and determined leadership at national and local level drives a strategic, multi-agency approach to protecting children in care from criminalisation
Outcome two: The important role of early support for children and families is recognised
Outcome three: Good parenting by the state gives children in care the chance to thrive and protects them from criminalisation
Outcome four: Needs and characteristics of looked after children in minority are taken into account in protecting them from criminalisation
Outcome five: Effective prevention, diversion and rehabilitation – close joint working is pivotal between children’s social care, youth justice services, child and adolescent mental health services, the police, the Crown Prosecution Service, the courts and the secure estate
Outcome six: Young people leaving care continue to benefit from good parenting and are protected from criminalisation.

8. Voices from care
“Michael (a one man crime wave at 15) and others who lives at ‘Kingsfold Drive’ said that the thing that made the difference for them and gave them hope for the future was that they knew this was a place that would always welcome them back, that they could return to after a scary experience and they would be treated as themselves and not a criminal and that adult behaviour towards them was not based on their recent behaviour. Indeed Michael said that while this was a comfort it was also the worst punishment as on his return home from the Police station, when a member of staff who he knew would collect him, the first questions were ‘Have you eaten?’, ‘Do you need a bath?’, ‘Did you get any sleep’. And this made him feel really bad about what he had done.”

9. Care review recommendations
Provide national leadership
Achieve consistent police practice
Provide early support for children and families at risk
Strengthen local authority leadership through strengthened standards
Improve joint working between children’s social services and criminal justice agencies
Recognise the important role of good parenting by the state
Respond to the particular needs of looked after children in minority groups
Provide looked after children in the criminal justice system with fair treatment and strengthened support
Improve the rehabilitation of looked after children who have offended, and support young people leaving care

10. Voices from care
“All the professionals have a negative stereotypical view of black families. The professionals don’t understand our lives, they don’t live in our areas, they don’t know people like us. They hate us!”
“You go in [to youth custody] on your own and you come out on your own.”
“It was less about me leaving care and more about care leaving me.”

11. Themes from the review
What does the duty of ‘corporate parenting’ actually mean … and whose responsibility is it?
The central importance of relationships: consistent, persistent, committed to the child
Resources – no surprises there.
Experience and expertise.
Upstream (i.e. early help) and downstream (i.e. diversion) interventions.
Restorative justice and de-escalation.
Therapy … and explanation.

12. What happens next? The Children’s Social Work bill before Parliament.
Opportunities to review existing guidance and codes of practice.
Disseminating best practice identified during the review and afterwards.

13. What do you think? Is this picture true for you?
What can be done to reduce the number of looked after children who offend and reoffend?
Have we got our messages right?
How might we help you?
How can you help us?

14. Further contact and feedback