What our Citizen Survey told us
People reporting that they feel part of their community
50% of carers, 83% of children and 54% of adults feel that they are part of their community with many feeling that they miss out on social activities and events due to caring responsibilities at home, lack of mobility or ill-health. Many comments suggest that people feel lonely and have limited contact with others, even when they live in close physical proximity with neighbours.
I do miss out on quite a few things in the community and would socialise a great deal more if I wasn’t a carer
We feel lonely even though we live in warden accommodation
Carers reporting they feel supported to continue their caring role
70% of respondents agreed that they feel supported and a further 16% stated that this is sometimes the case. Again, the additional comments highlight the value placed on effective support by those who provide unpaid care in our communities.
Now I have the support I need I feel less isolated and am quite happy to carry on my role as a full time carer
Carers reporting they felt involved in designing the care and support plan for the person they care for
85% of carers agreed with this statement, however, some did not feel that the experience has always been positive. Changes in key workers and a perception of how understanding we are as a department are just two factors which can affect how involved carers feel.
The person who decided what support my wife gets has changed on an annual basis so she feels like she is just a statistic
I have been consulted on all matters. Very pleased
How well are we doing?
We helped 71% of the children we supported to remain living within their family (PMC25), slightly better than the Welsh average. 8% of looked after children returned home from care during the year, which is better than we did last year (PMC26). 8% of looked after children (on 31 March) had 3 or more placements during the year – this is improving and is better than the Welsh average (PMC33).
Enhanced Support Services Project for Looked After Children
The experience of Adverse Childhood Experiences prior to being Looked After, has a significant impact on a child or young person’s development, requiring specialist care and support to minimise interventions and the risk of placement breakdowns.
The Enhanced Support Service for Looked After Children is designed to provide safe and nurturing care to a child or young person in a more structured environment than the ‘typical’ foster or family placement. It provides better outcomes and is a cost-effective alternative to residential care, which is always a ‘last resort’ option. The service will provide:
- Support for children to step down from residential placements into foster care placements, or rehabilitated back home to family with enhanced support.
- Enhanced support to existing in–house foster carers, placements with parents, connected persons and significant others who are caring for children with complex needs.
- A therapeutic supportive approach which ensures placements remain stable and that children’s carers feel supported in their local communities, thus encouraging confidence and independence. The therapeutic approach is supported with practical and regular respite arrangements, including overnight.
- A consistent approach around settings such as education, home and in the community and will help carers feel more resilient and supported to care for a child with complex needs.
- A radical approach to maintaining and supporting children with complex needs in local foster care placements with wraparound multi-disciplinary support services. This will reduce the need to commission independent residential and independent fostering placements the quality of which the service don’t control.