What is Lifelong Links?
Lifelong Links aims to build positive, lasting support networks for children and young
people who have lost or broken connections with family members and supportive
people during their time in care. This approach has been developed by the Family
Rights Group, an organisation which aims to enable children to be raised safely and
thrive within their family and community.
Lifelong Links is aimed at children and young people in care or care leavers who fit the
following criteria:
- There are no plans for the young person to live within their family or be adopted.
- Are currently in care or are a care leaver with an allocated Social Worker or
Personal Advisor.
- Are a care leaver who is a parent up to the age of 25 years old, who has
experienced the loss of a child through care proceedings, and is working with the
Futures Service, Home-Start Leeds or Adult and Health (social care).
Lifelong Links work involves identifying and engaging relatives and other supportive
adults connected to a child or young person with care experience, who are willing to
make a life-long commitment to them. To achieve this, a Lifelong Links Coordinator will
search for family members, and other adults such as former foster carers or teachers,
to bring together in a Lifelong Links Family Group Conference (FGC). A Lifelong Links
FGC is a meeting where the identified people meet with the young person to form a
support plan with, and for, them.
This support plan is then integrated into the child’s care plan by the Local Authority.
Lifelong Links is a child centred process, meaning that throughout each stage the views
of the child or young person are kept at the heart of the approach, ensuring that they
are always listened to and feel involved in decisions that affect them.
Why do we have Lifelong Links?
The demand for Lifelong Links was highlighted by the Care Inquiry (2013) which
concluded that the biggest failing of the care system is that procedures can often break
relationships for children in care, rather than build them. The resulting instability can have
a range of negative consequences for young people. Examples include not wanting to invest in building new relationships, mental health issues and increased harmful and risky
behaviours e.g. substance misuse or criminal activity.
Stable support from family and community can be the most important factor for enabling
young people to successfully transition into adulthood. By creating a positive, lasting support network for Children Looked After, Lifelong Links can improve outcomes in many aspects of a young person’s life. Just a few of the many possible benefits of increased stability include stronger relationships both in care and upon leaving care, a reinforced sense
of identity and improved mental health and emotional wellbeing.
What does the law say about it?
The Children Act (1989) states (Schedule 2, paragraph 15) “The Local Authority has a
duty to promote contact between a child and their parents, plus any important people
in their lives”.
Lifelong Links helps Children Looked After to connect with their extended network, not
just blood relatives, promoting these relationships and building a stronger sense of
identity.
The need to do this is reiterated by Isabelle Trowler, Chief Social Worker for Children
and Families, Putting Children First, Department for Education (July 2016):
‘Relationships and long term social connection is the cornerstone to child and family
welfare’
What do we have in Leeds?
In Leeds, Lifelong Links is part of the Family Group Conference Service. There is a
small team working on a city-wide basis with Children Looked After who fit the
criteria listed earlier.
By supporting these individuals to form positive networks and relationships, we aim
to improve outcomes for some of the most vulnerable children and young people in
our city. This forms part of the Leeds goal to be a child-friendly city where all
children and young people get the best possible start in life.
What should practitioners do?
Any Leeds practitioner, working with a child or young person, who thinks that Lifelong
Links could benefit them, can get in touch using the contact details below.
Key contacts and for more information
For more information about Lifelong Links you can contact Emma Naylor, Service
Delivery Manager—Kinship Care Services and Family Group Conference.
Email: Emma.Naylor2@leeds.gov.uk
And you can find out more information by looking on the Family Rights Group website
Lifelong Links page
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