All four nations of the UK have some form of provision for young people to stay in care beyond the age of 18. Joe Lepper compares the approaches and investigates plans to extend entitlements.
With government pledging to undertake a 'national stocktake' of foster care and MPs conducting their own inquiry, Joe Lepper asks what measures would improve quality of care and outcomes for children.
The review of foster care by Sir Martin Narey and Mark Owers recommends fundamental changes to the way services are commissioned and delivered, but experts have questioned the rationale for some of the proposals.
Finding the right match for children who need a new permanent home is vital for their future wellbeing. Eileen Fursland spends the day with Derby adoption social worker Hannah Barrs.
In recent years there has been a growing recognition of the scale of child neglect, its long-term effect on children's wellbeing and how interventions can prevent and repair the damage caused to children's ability to form strong attachments with parents and carers.
A system for matching hard-to-place children with adopters has been shelved after 18 years. Those running the National Adoption Register fear the change will limit options, but others say online systems can fill the void.
Family Futures offers intensive, long-term therapeutic help to those who have experienced trauma in their early lives. Charlotte Goddard examines how the agency turns round the lives of deeply damaged children
Review assesses the evidence on the impact of abuse on children and considers the merits of care placement options. The authors summarise the findings, while three organisations outline initiatives to improve decision making.