Once again, your government needs you, and this time it is for a consultation on how to improve support for children in care, and to help return children home from care where possible.

The Consultation tells us that the government will be looking at:

“A range of proposals to strengthen the team around the
looked after child, improve the status, security and stability of long-term foster care and to strengthen the requirements for returning children home from care.”

And they would like to hear from:

Local authority children’s services, fostering services, foster carers,
residential workers, parents, families, children and young people,
education and healthcare professionals

The Consultation closes on 29th November, 2013, so there’s only a few weeks to get involved.

The government is also interested in your views on the proposed amendments to the current regulations in this area, but you can share your thoughts on related topics if you feel they are relevant and have been overlooked by the Consultation.

The Consultation is divided into four categories:

1. Strengthening the team around the looked after child;
2. Securing permanence for looked after children;
3. Improving the status, security and stability of long-term foster care and;
4. Strengthening the requirements for returning children home from care

There are 27 questions in all. You can throw your thoughts in to the Consultation mix by emailing ImprovingPermanence.CONSULTATION@education.gsi.gov.uk or filling out the Consultation on-line.