A special edition of Child Care in Practice on “Raising the Voice of Children and Young People in Care”. This special edition is being guest edited by Mr. Jason Caldwell, Principal Social Work Practitioner, South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust, Northern Ireland; Ms. Vivian McConvey, Chief Executive, Voice of Young People in Care (VOYPIC), Northern Ireland and Dr. Mary Collins, Professor in Social Welfare Policy, Boston University School of Social Work, USA.

Almost 30 years have now passed since the world’s first declaration on children’s rights was introduced; this special edition has set out with the aim of seeking to not only showcase practice and research that demonstrates how the voice of children and young people is heard; we also wanted to share some of the innovative practice that is empowering children and young people to take ownership of the decisions affecting their lives in the true spirit of the UNCRC and similar rights-based standards.