WIREDGOV

Flexible individual support, high aspirations and a commitment from social care staff are successfully helping young people leaving care make the transition into adulthood and independence, according to an Ofsted report, Support for care leavers, published today.

Surveying six local authorities, four secure estate settings and 103 care leavers, the report highlights that leaving care is not a single event but a period of transition for each young person. It shows that good authorities recognise that like other young people, care leavers will make mistakes and change their minds about their future. This acknowledgement ensures continual support and guidance from social care staff, helping young people progress and become successful young adults.

Christine Gilbert, Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector, said: “This report shows the difference good local authorities can make to the lives of young people leaving care. The transition into adulthood and independence can be an anxious and challenging time. However, the commitment made by social care workers to go that extra mile for these young people is evident in our report. Over three quarters of the 103 care leavers surveyed said they received good levels of practical help and guidance to prepare them for independent living.”

In five of the authorities, tailor-made arrangements and joint working between the local authority and their partners provided seamless, ‘wraparound’ services for each care leaver, based on their needs. In one council, for example, pooled budgets and partnership arrangements led to the development of a specialist service for young people with complex disabilities. Facilities were provided that focused on the individual which integrated into adult services. Young people and families say this has helped to provide clarity and continuity in planning processes for young people leaving care.

Inclusion of care leavers’ views and inviting them to join decision-making panels empowered young people and brought about improvements in the quality of services which affected them.

In five of the authorities visited desired outcomes for care leavers were clearly set out in plans. Examples included the council and its partners demonstrating their strong commitment and high aspirations for care leavers by focusing on their success. These authorities celebrated young people’s achievements by holding award ceremonies.

Elsewhere, authorities encouraged care leavers to think about following further or higher education courses. Two authorities had negotiated protocols with colleges and universities to help the young people continue their education.

Care leavers identified foster carers and residential workers as good at helping them to prepare for leaving care as they learn to manage daily chores and skills for independent living. One young person aged 17 explained, “I get £47.50 a week from staff this was to help young people learn to manage on a realistic income to buy food, my clothes and activities, to help me learn how to budget. I am managing. Staff give me a lot of support with things like using public transport, cooking, ironing and washing. If I get stuck, staff help me.”

However, preparations for young people leaving care from secure settings were less successful. The tensions between the task of managing behaviour and risk, and helping care leavers gain independence skills had an impact on the number of opportunities for preparatory work made available to individual care leavers. Young people in secure settings were also not confident about leaving care; of the 30 young people who responded only five felt ‘totally prepared’ about leaving care.

Shortage of suitable accommodation was also an issue. Three of the authorities visited did not have access to a sufficient stock of suitable, long-term independent accommodation to meet the needs of all care leavers and were dependent upon private sector provision, particularly in rural areas.

The report recommends areas for improvements, which include the Department of Children, Schools and Families working in partnership with the Benefits Agency to review issues within the benefits system that have an adverse impact on foster carers and care leavers moving into independence. Local authorities should also increase housing options, including the provision of more suitable emergency accommodation for care leavers.

1. The Support for care leavers report can be found here
2. Between August and December 2008 Ofsted visited to six local authorities, four secure estate provisions and surveyed 103 care leavers. The authorities were selected from evidence drawn from joint area reviews and annual performance assessments of services for children and young people. They represented a diverse sample of areas with different types of local authorities.
3. The Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills (Ofsted) regulates and inspects to achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children's social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, work-based learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It rates council children’s services, and inspects services for looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.
4. Media can contact the Ofsted Press Office through 020 7421 6899 or via Ofsted's enquiry line 08456 404040 between 8.30am - 6.30pm Monday - Friday. Out of these hours, during evenings and weekends, the duty press officer can be reached on 07919 057359.