Kids in Care

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Duration: 1 hour

Since the case of Baby P, there has been a 40% increase in the number of children taken into care by the state. There are now 70,000 children being 'looked after' in the system. What happens to them? Can the system offer them a better life?

Panorama follows children in the care of Coventry Social Services for six months to find out if the state can be a real parent - even though children in care are more at risk of failing school and committing crime than any other group.

Narrated by Samantha Morton, who herself grew up in care.

Last on

Thu 14 Oct 2010 02:00 BBC One Scotland only

See all previous episodes from Panorama

  • The Big Society's big challenge: Kids in care

    The Big Society's big challenge: Kids in care

    Panorama gained rare access to tell the stories of children taken into care in Coventry and examines the challenge they present to society.

    Read more on the story

  • Boy in care - 18 homes and counting

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    In care since the age of three and placed in five care homes and 13 foster homes in the Coventry area, 14-year-old Conner is typical of many of the 70,000 children being looked after in the care system in the UK.
    Here we see him arrive at his latest care home - the Grange - a home for teenagers unable to stay with foster families.

  • Conor, 3, fears leaving foster family

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    In Coventry, the foster family of three-year-old Conor struggle daily with the impact that frequent moves and failed adoptions have had on the toddler.
    His foster mum, Seraina Wincott wrestles with the dilemma of whether it is even fair she should love a little boy who will one day leave her temporary care.

  • Kids in Care - useful websites

    Kids in Care - useful websites

    If you or anyone you know is affected by the issues raised in Kids in Care: A Panorama Special, here is a list of agencies, charities and organisations available to help.

    Find details here

  • Kids in Care - Join in the debate

    Kids in Care - Join in the debate

    Read other viewers' comments or leave your own on our forum

  • Panorama 2000 to 2008

    Panorama 2000 to 2008

    If you'd like to know more about Panorama programmes dating between 2000 - 2008, including features, transcripts, video content and more, please click on the link below.

    Browse the Panorama archive 2000 - 2008

  • Archive 1962: Kids in Care

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    A lack of foster families and adoptive parents led to a crisis for children taken into care in the early 1960s. Panorama's John Morgan visited a children's home in south London to look at the scale of the problem.

    This is an abridged version of Panorama: Children in Care which was originally broadcast on 18 June 1962.

Credits

Narrator
Samantha Morton
Producer
Simon Gilchrist
Executive Producer
Roger Graef

Broadcasts

See all broadcasts of Kids in Care (4)

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