Shame of care system ‘pinball kids’

THOUSANDS of ‘pinball kids’ are being shunted around the care system, facing multiple changes to their home, school or social workers, a report warns.

Just one in four children in care experienced no changes in 016/17, according to a study by the Children’s Commissioner, who warned that far too many youngsters were ‘living unstable lives’.

In total, almost ,400 children switched home, school and social worker during those 1 months, while a further 9,000 experienced two of these changes.

Across two years, the commissioner’s latest Stability Index found that more than 3,000 children had to move home four or more times, while over three years, ,500 had moved at least five times.

The report warns that youngsters who experience instability in their lives are more at risk of issues such as being excluded from school, gang membership and exploitation.