One in 26 looked after children contact ChildLine about failings and weaknesses in the care system, a new ChildLine report has revealed.
The report calls on local authorities to ensure fostered and other looked after children always have an adult to speak up for them when they need help. At present, children only have a right to an 'advocate' if they want to make a formal complaint about their care.
There were over 83,000 children in foster, residential or other forms of care in 2009. In all, 3,196 looked after children - some as young as five - contacted ChildLine over 2009-10 with problems about being in care. Many were suffering physical and sexual abuse and neglect and felt lost and helpless in the care system.
Over the last five years, the number of 'looked after children' contacting ChildLine has increased by over 30%.
