Aasra Care

🎉 Happy New Year 2026 from Aasra Care! 🎉

As we step into a new year, we want to express our heartfelt gratitude to all our partners, colleagues, and followers for your unwavering support and trust throughout 2025.

We look forward to continuing this journey of care and compassion in 2026.

Wishing you a year filled with hope, happiness, and new beginnings!

#2026

We are deeply saddened by the recent findings of the independent review into the tragic death of Sara Sharif. The report makes clear that Sara endured two years of abuse, and despite repeated warning signs, the system failed to protect her.

The review highlights:

- Social workers’ voices not being heard in court
- Vital information missing from custody reports
- A rushed response to visible injuries
- Administrative errors that meant Sara disappeared from view
- Community fears of reporting concerns due to racism worries

Each of these failings represents a missed opportunity to safeguard a vulnerable child. At Aasra Care, we believe every child deserves to grow up safe, loved, and protected. We must learn from Sara’s case to ensure that no child slips through the cracks of the system again. May Sara’s memory be a call to action for stronger safeguarding, better listening to professionals, and communities empowered to speak up without fear.

Last week, MP Sally Jameson called out the postcode lottery facing care leavers, urging Parliament to deliver a unified support package for all. Her powerful words remind us that leaving care shouldn’t mean leaving support behind.

Charities like DHYP have helped over 280 young people this year, offering housing, life skills, and emotional wellbeing. But more must be done! We stand with care leavers and echo the call for:

- Consistent support up to age 25
- Priority housing access
- Free travel and prescriptions
- Reform of Universal Credit

Let’s build a future where care doesn’t end at 18.

October has been a month full of learning, laughter, and light at Aasra Care! From exploring the rich stories of Black History Month to the spooky fun of Halloween, the sparkle of Diwali, and the excitement of Guy Fawkes Night - our homes have been buzzing with celebration and curiosity. Here's to embracing culture, community, and joy together!

New research from SERCC, Data to Insight, and the Department for Education reveals that children in care across the South, especially London, are more likely to be placed outside their home region than those in the North. As of March 2024, 23% of London’s looked-after children were placed beyond the capital, the highest rate in England.

This cross-regional movement means more children are living far from familiar places, and social workers are supporting them from a distance. While some placements are positive, the data highlights the need for thoughtful, regionally coordinated care planning.

At Aasra Care, we remain committed to providing nurturing, stable environments - wherever a child is placed. Every child deserves to feel safe, supported, and close to the people and places they know best.

We are hiring at Aasra Care!

We are looking for a compassionate and experienced Responsible Individual to oversee our Children’s Homes across South East London and Kent.

This part-time leadership role is perfect for someone with a strong background in residential childcare, safeguarding, and team management. You’ll be at the heart of creating safe, nurturing environments where vulnerable children and young people can thrive.

- Lead daily operations and ensure regulatory compliance

- Champion safeguarding and child protection policies

- Support staff development and care planning

- Build strong partnerships with families and professionals

- Make a lasting impact in children’s lives

Must have relevant qualifications (e.g., Level 3/4 Childcare or equivalent) and proven experience in children’s services. Previous senior management or Responsible Individual experience is a plus!

Join a supportive team with opportunities for growth, training, and a competitive benefits package.

Visit https://aasracare.com/careers/ to find out more, or apply now by sending your CV and cover letter to [email protected]

We are thrilled to see the UK government stepping up its commitment to children and families with an additional £18 million in funding to support councils in transforming early help and statutory social work services.

This boost is part of a wider £555 million reform package under the Families First Partnership programme, aiming to:

- Keep families together through multidisciplinary family help services
- Strengthen safeguarding with multi-agency child protection teams
- Empower extended families through family group decision-making meetings

From 2025, councils will be expected to deliver more joined-up, compassionate care - bringing together social workers, health professionals, educators, and police to support children in need.

At Aasra Care, we believe every child deserves a safe, loving environment. These reforms are a step toward making that vision a reality.

Let’s keep pushing for a future where no child is left behind.

With care costs projected to rise by 82% by 2030, the children’s social care sector faces a critical challenge. In 2024, over 84,000 children were in care in England, with £3.1bn spent on placements - 44% of which went to residential care homes.

At Aasra Care, we believe that procurement and commissioning must evolve to meet this growing demand. A recent report by YPO outlines six key challenge - from rising placement costs to workforce shortages - and offers five strategic solutions, including:

- Shared investment models
- Values-based provider development
- Balanced placement strategies
- Creating stable homes, not just placements
- Integrated NHS collaboration

These reforms are not just financial - they’re about building better futures for vulnerable children. With new government funding announced in the 2025 Spending Review, now is the time to act.

Let’s work together to ensure every child in care has a safe, nurturing home and the support they need to thrive.

This week we were very moved by the story of Paris Bartholomew, who entered care in 1979 at just six years old. From the trauma of abuse, institutional neglect, and racism, to the small moments of joy that offered hope, Paris’ journey sheds light on what it truly means to grow up in care during the 1980s and 90s.

Her powerful reflections highlight the importance of:

💬 Listening to children’s voices and valuing their feelings.

🌍 Recognising and supporting cultural identity.

🤝 Building trust through consistency and compassion.

Paris’ story is not just one of survival, but of transformation. Today, she is an advocate, writer, psychologist and trainer, dedicated to making sure no child in care feels unheard or unseen.

At Aasra Care, we believe every story matters – and that by listening, we can learn to care better. 💜

You can read the full article about Paris’ journey here:

https://www.communitycare.co.uk/2025/08/15/my-care-story-social-workers-recognised-black-child/

My Care Story: ‘I wish social workers had recognised my needs as a black child’ by Paris Bartholomew ‘My Care Story’ is a new series dedicated to amplifying the stories of care-experienced individuals and providing social workers with vital insights to improve the support they offer. As a speaker and a trainer who advocates to raise awareness and dispel myths about the care...

Aasra Care stands with London Boroughs in raising urgent concerns over proposed children’s services reforms.

A newly published report 'Meeting Needs or Missing Needs?' reveals serious flaws in the government’s draft formula for assessing funding needs in children’s social care. The findings are deeply troubling:

❌ Questionable accuracy and robustness

❌ Failure to account for housing costs

❌ Use of subjective health measures

❌ Misleading assumptions about London’s decreasing need

Despite a 40% assumed drop in need, boroughs have overspent by £150m+ annually - while London’s child population continues to grow.

This formula isn’t just numbers - it is about real children, real families, and real futures. If implemented as is, it risks undermining vital services and leaving vulnerable children without the support they deserve.

At Aasra Care, we believe funding must reflect actual need, not flawed assumptions. We urge the government to rethink and refine this approach - for the sake of every child who depends on these services.

You can read more here:

https://www.lgcplus.com/finance/warning-over-devastating-impact-of-childrens-services-reforms-01-08-2025/