Woman who spent six years in NI care system calls for change

A young woman who spent six years in the Northern Ireland care system says there were "more dark times than good".

Rhianna Brown had 26 social workers by the time she turned 18 and says "it was hard to learn to trust somebody".

The number of children in care here is at an all-time high, according to Department of Health figures.

"A lot needs to be changed in the care sector at the minute. The time for covering over the cracks is over," said Rhianna.

The 20-year-old has been contributing to an independent review of children's social care services.

She says entering the care system when she was 12 years old was "scary and "tough".

Rhianna spent the majority of her teenage years in kinship care which is when a child lives with a relative or friend who is not their parent.

However, she also had 18 different foster placements within the three months before she turned 18.

Rhianna says that she was bullied for being in care when she was a child

"I do hope a lot of the stigma and a lot of the attitudes change," Rhianna said.

"I was bullied in school for being in care and I don't want anybody else to feel the way I did."

Since turning 18, Rhianna says her experience has changed for the better.

"I've had the same social worker since I started the 18-plus team. They helped me get a really good job and my first house as well."

She wants her experience to help shape the system for young people currently in care.

Some 3,801 children and young people were recorded as being in care in March this year, 177 more than in 2022.

A charity believes the rise is partly because of cost-of-living pressures and long-term effects of the pandemic.

Voypic's Alicia Toal says high levels of deprivation are fuelling an increase in children in care

Voice of Young People in Care (Voypic)'s chief executive also says it is due to a rise in the number of unaccompanied asylum seeking children in Northern Ireland.

Alicia Toal said: "Our families and communities are experiencing a level of deprivation and hardship that we probably haven't encountered over the last number of decades."

She listed poor mental health, higher rates of domestic abuse and "a significant number of families living in extreme poverty".

"All of these impact on a parents ability to look after children safely."

Earlier this year, a major independent review found a much higher rate of children being referred to services in Northern Ireland than in the rest of the UK and the Republic of Ireland.

Prof Ray Jones, who led the review, said: "Children only have one childhood and the clock is ticking."

There are 53 recommendations in Prof Jones' report including the need for more support for families to help them care well for children

The report put forward 53 recommendations including the need for more support for families to help them care well for children.

However, Voypic's Alicia Toal says the absence of Stormont has "exacerbated the current problems."

"Ray Jones has set out a road map of how he sees change could improve outcomes for young people and families.

"There are a lot of recommendations within that report that we will not be able to progress with unless there is legislative change for which we need a functioning assembly.

"But we also need investment in the services and the workforce and unfortunately that is not going to happen unless power sharing is re-established."