The system is 'in a cycle where problems escalate, costs rise, outcomes continue to be too poor' and it's 'getting worse and worse'.
Mr MacAlister said those working on the review, which began in March 2021, started by listening to people who have first-hand experience of the system, including children in care, young adults who were in care, grandparents, foster carers and parents.
"Lots of the solutions to the problems we see are bottom-up - the report is filled to the brim with great examples of things that are being done.• Make the fact that someone has been in care a 'protected characteristic,' recognising that many experience subsequent discrimination or stigma. This would make the UK the first place in the world to recognise children in care and care leavers this way.
• Increase support to extended family members such as grandparents, aunts and uncles who look after relatives who may otherwise go into care. "It's why we're calling for a five-year comprehensive ambitious reform and investment programme so that we can set this system up to succeed for the hundreds of thousands of children and families who need it," he said.The review has calculated the costs of adverse outcomes for the social care system as £23bn a year and is suggesting an investment of £2.6bn over the next five years to reform the system and"reduce long-term costs", Mr MacAlister said.
These would be responsible for creating and running public sector fostering, residential and secure care, and commission not-for-profit and private care, and would aim to end profiteering in the market and enable more children to be placed near family, friends and their community if this is in their interest.
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