This session will look at what we do, and importantly, do not know about children in and leaving care with a disability or long-term health condition in England; a group whose experiences and voice can be hidden. Led by Dr. Claire Baker, the event will look at findings from Coram Voice's research report Disability, Disparity and Demand which brings together results from a freedom of information request to local authorities, learnings from the Bright Spot Programme on disability and workshops conducted with young people and leaving care professionals.
For over 20 years, Dr Claire Baker has specialised in research focusing on the experiences and outcomes for young people in and leaving care. She works as an independent researcher. She also supports the Bright Spots Programme at Coram Voice.
I think Child Abuse Review has gone from strength to strength and is of a consistently high standard. We have held numerous events that have been inspiring and enabling, such as the most recent Congresses and the Trainer's conference and award ceremony, the seminars to disseminate lessons from Serious Case Reviews. As resources get ever tighter, professionals have fewer and fewer opportunities to come together to exchange ideas and to learn together. We move more and more into silos because of work pressures. This is not the way to keep children safe. Association of Child Protection Professionals is needed to bring people concerned about child protection together to learn, to think, to shape policy and practice and to disseminate research. No-one else does this.
