BIGON Sandbank

Children who are in care long-term may lose all contact with family and friends, according to new report findings.

Over 400 children and young people who took part in a survey were asked about keeping in touch and loosing contact with their families and friends whilst in care.

The report ‘Keeping in Touch’ published today, determined that the longer children are in the care system, the more likely they are to lose touch with family and once they had been involved for two to six years it was even less likely they would have little or no contact with their birth parents.

Several indicators were highlighted as to the reasons why contact was lost including moving away, not bonding with step-parents or carers did not help children to stay in touch.

Many children also gave examples of when carers did make the effort and one young person outlined how their carer helped her to organise a party for their birth mother.

Children’s rights director, Dr Roger Morgan said: "It is essential that children have the opportunity to voice their concerns in order to improve services for children in care. This is why this report about keeping in touch with birth families is important."

Findings found that children wanted a choice about the contact they kept and felt social workers should help them arrange contact.

However the report also noted important differences in contact for children living in different care situations with those living in homes 99 per cent were apart from their siblings compared to those living in foster care 66 per cent.

Results showed that those in children homes were 58 per cent more likely to have contact with mothers compared to 42 per cent of those in foster care. Although figures found the opposite for fathers, with 52 per cent losing contact to 41 per cent in foster care.

In support of the report, children’s minister Delyth Morgan said:" I hope that local authorities use the revised statutory guidance we published in November this year to improve the contact between children in care and their families across the country.

"The guidance reinforces the clear messages that local authorities must allow contact with parents or guardian, when it is in the best interests of the child, and makes it a specific requirement that all care plans should set out arrangements for children to maintain contact with brothers and sisters who are also in care."