In the face of it, the domestic scene being played out at this ordinary-looking house in Hampshire looks like any other family home after the schools have closed for the day. Shoes and tie off but school uniform still on, 13-year-old Stephen (not his real name) plays with the household dog.
But the woman doing chores in the kitchen is not Stephen's mum and this isn't his family home. Stephen came to live here last November while on remand for driving offences. He had been referred to Action for Children's Wessex intensive fostering scheme, one of three pilots in England, which were set up in 2005 to provide an alternative to going into custody.
Register Now to Continue Reading
Thank you for visiting Children & Young People Now and making use of our archive of more than 60,000 expert features, topics hubs, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:
What's Included
-
Free access to 4 subscriber-only articles per month
-
Email newsletter providing advice and guidance across the sector
Already have an account? Sign in here
