Why We Started
During Lockdown in 2020, The Black Care Experience was established because of a concern about the Care, Outcomes and Life Chances of those of us who are Black and In Care, along with concerns about how the ‘VOICE’ of the Black Care Experienced would be presented and represented at England’s Independent Children’s Social Care Review.
With the aim of capturing the lived experiences of the black and in care, we launched a Survey to further understand and evidence the impact and outcomes of those of us placed with a Foster Family, in a Residential Care Home and in a Community, we could or could not culturally identify with. These comparisons helped us to document a balanced view in our Report, for the way forward for change.
For context please also note that we understand that the Care Experience for all does come with challenges, however we also know that the Care Experience for those of us who are Black does come with an extra layer of challenges.
“The Care Experience for all does come with challenges, however the Care Experience for those who are Black does come with an extra layer of challenges.”
The Extra Layers relate to the following:
How our Identity is promoted and how our Cultural needs are met/not met impacting on how we see ourselves and our Community.
How our Hair and Skin is cared for/not cared for.
How our Mental Health and Emotional Well-being is looked after/not looked after.
How our aspirations are champion/not championed.
Not being prepared for the wider world of racism and discrimination which is also experienced as we journey through the Care System.
Finding a ‘Safe Space’ to voice our concerns about our Care.
The Over-representation of Black Children in Care in comparison to other ethnic communities.
The Shortage of Black Foster Carers to meet this over-representation.
Transracial and cross cultural matching having an impact on our identity and sense of self.
Black Boys waiting the longest to be adopted.
These extra layers we were able to highlight in The Black Care Experience Report, along with the following recommendations for change:
Fostering Application Process to give Foster Carers a choice of who they’d like to Foster.
The creation of a Black Foster Network to aid recruitment.
Consistent collation of Research and Data about the Care Experiences and outcomes of the Black and In Care.
Mandatory Training for Children’s Social Care Departments.
Mandatory Training for ALL Foster Carers and ALL Residential Children’s Care Home Staff.
Holistic Care Packages for The Black and In Care.
The Report was published and submitted to England’s Independent Children’s Social Care Review in 2021.
“Researching the historical journey of Black Children and Young People in the Care System, we saw consistent and emerging themes of Care from the 1950’s to present day, that did not promote and affirm the Identity or empower a positive sense of self for those who were Black and in Care. We also found that this was not the first time that the challenges of the black care experienced had been brought to our Governments attention.”
In the 1980’s a Black and In Care Group was formed. They held their Conference in 1984 and published their findings in their Report in 1985, which contained the same issues. In addition to the Report, the ‘Voices’ of those Black and in Care were captured in a film called ‘Black and In Care 1984’.
The 1985 Report was included in a Report on all aspects of Care, and presented to the House of Commons Select Committee on Social Services.
From here we also learn that when the 1989 Children’s Act was created, the ONLY reference in the Act, relating to how Black Children should be Cared for is that Local Authorities are to give consideration to the “religious persuasion, racial origin, cultural and linguistic background” of the child to be placed.
The Children Act 1989 Guidance and Regulations Volume 4: Fostering Services outlines that Foster Carers “should be informed, trained and confident about dealing with issues relating to gender, religion, ethnic origin, cultural background, linguistic background, nationality, disability or sexual orientation”, involving external professional advice and support as necessary.
Now it is fair and balanced to say that there have been some good examples of how Black Children and Young People have experienced the Care System, but it is also fair and balanced to say that we still see that Black Children and Young People continue to have a challenging time in the Care System leading to the poorest outcomes and life chances after being in the Care System.
The Black Care Experience Conference 2022
On Saturday 12th February 2022, we hosted our first Conference held in London, bringing together those are Black Care Experienced and those who work in England’s Children’s Social Care System, to unite and stand as one voice to help shape the Care, Outcomes and Life Chances of Black Children and Young People in Care.
The Conference strengthened our vision to see that every Black Child and Young Person remains connected to their Culture, Identity and Heritage as they journey through Children’s Social Care System. The Conference confirmed that this can be made possible by bringing together a Network of diverse Children’s Social Care Workforce and Voluntary Sector Workforce within Children’s Social Care, to improve their systems and practice, by learning from the Lived Black Care Experience and sharing best practice; and so we created The Black Care Experience Network.
We also saw the need for the Workforces to become culturally competent through the lens of the lived experience of those who are black and in care. To meet this need we have designed Black Care Training and are open to providing Consultation, to further improve systems and practice.