Sector unites to call for further improvements in services and outcomes for care leavers.

23 October 2008

National Care Leavers’ Week this week takes place from 26th – 31st October and features local, regional and national events throughout the week. Under the banner ‘Every Care Leaver Matters’ the purpose of this year’s awareness week is to challenge Government to resist complacency and ensure that children leaving care, many of whom head rapidly towards social exclusion once left to fend for themselves, remain high on the political agenda.
With the Children and Young Persons Bill about to become law and a tri-partite focus from the DWP the Cabinet Office and the Department for Children Schools and Families on getting more socially excluded young adults into settled accommodation and training or employment, there is a lot at policy level which is encouraging in terms of improving outcomes for children leaving care.

However many in the sector believe important gaps remain. Janet Rich, spokesperson for National Care Leavers Week said “we welcome much that is in the Children and Young Persons Bill, in particular the explicit recognition that most care leavers are likely to need to access some sort of advice and support up until the age of 25. Bursaries for care leavers at university are long overdue and also welcomed, however we are concerned that those young people who are not high achievers and who are really struggling on the margins are not to be the recipients of any additional help. These are likely to be the most vulnerable and to need access to support and advice for longer – both practical and emotional.”

In the Bill, only those who progress to higher education will enjoy the new entitlement to have a personal advisor until they are 25.
“We fully understand the desire to reward those who stick at their education,” said Rich, however those going on to university remain a relatively small proportion of the overall care leaving population and it seems perverse to fail to provide additional support to those who are most vulnerable and most in need.”

National Care Leavers’ Week also highlights good practice and creative initiatives which are particularly effective at helping care leavers secure and maintain education and employment opportunities and good quality housing. Many local authorities will also be recognising the achievements of care leavers in their own areas by holding award ceremonies and other events during the week.

A new study conducted by QA Research entitled Life After Care will also be published during National Care Leavers Week which demonstrates just how many vulnerable young care leavers are still being failed by the system despite improvements and good practice being evident in many areas.

National Care Leavers’ Week remains an important part of the annual calendar as it is vital to keep in mind those for whom the state has declared itself corporate parent and lavished care and attention upon as children, but who so easily slip out of mind once they begin their journeys towards independence.

For full details of National Care Leavers’ Week visit www.nationalcareleaversweek.org

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