Councils now have a duty to provide homeless 16 and 17 year olds with accommodation and support and children on remand for more than three months. However, councils have yet to receive any additional funding to meet this demand which is threatening the provision of services. Devon's Staying Put initiative which offers foster care placements to care leavers is highlighted as positive example of practice.
Councils now have a duty to provide homeless 16 and 17 year olds with accommodation and support and children on remand for more than three months. However, councils have yet to receive any additional funding to meet this demand which is threatening the provision of services. Devon's Staying Put initiative which offers foster care placements to care leavers is highlighted as positive example of practice.
Subject terms:
homelessness, housing, leaving care, local authorities, young people, access to services;
Four legal implications for councils are highlighted if the Legal Aid and Sentencing Bill is passed into law. These are identified as: an increase in the older looked-after population; care planning challenges as care planning, review and leaving care services will need to be provided for children who are detained far from their families; turf wars as local authorities argue who is responsible for providing for a child; and increase in the number of young people who are entitled to leaving care services.
Four legal implications for councils are highlighted if the Legal Aid and Sentencing Bill is passed into law. These are identified as: an increase in the older looked-after population; care planning challenges as care planning, review and leaving care services will need to be provided for children who are detained far from their families; turf wars as local authorities argue who is responsible for providing for a child; and increase in the number of young people who are entitled to leaving care services.
Subject terms:
leaving care, local authorities, looked after children, young offenders, young people, government policy;
A recent report 'In Loco Parentis' from Demos aimed to investigate how the care system might be reconfigured to improve outcomes and experiences for looked-after children. Methods used included a literature review combined with primary data, including interviews with UK policy, practice and academic experts; case studies from across England; focus groups with children in care, care leavers and foster carers; and quantitative analysis of the costs and experiences of care. The results found that change is needed to de-stigmatise the experience, remove delays, improve stability and transition from care and offer more flexible and effective provision to families and children. The importance of early interventions highlighted to improve the life chances of those in care and those leaving care.
A recent report 'In Loco Parentis' from Demos aimed to investigate how the care system might be reconfigured to improve outcomes and experiences for looked-after children. Methods used included a literature review combined with primary data, including interviews with UK policy, practice and academic experts; case studies from across England; focus groups with children in care, care leavers and foster carers; and quantitative analysis of the costs and experiences of care. The results found that change is needed to de-stigmatise the experience, remove delays, improve stability and transition from care and offer more flexible and effective provision to families and children. The importance of early interventions highlighted to improve the life chances of those in care and those leaving care.
Subject terms:
leaving care, looked after children, outcomes, placement disruption, care planning, early intervention;
The success of the Get-a-LifeStyle website, described. The website is a personal development programme which uses a virtual house to prepare care leavers for independence. The programme helps young people leaving care to learn life skills and boost their confidence. A short case study is included which explains how the Get-a-LifeStyle website helped one young person leaving foster care.
The success of the Get-a-LifeStyle website, described. The website is a personal development programme which uses a virtual house to prepare care leavers for independence. The programme helps young people leaving care to learn life skills and boost their confidence. A short case study is included which explains how the Get-a-LifeStyle website helped one young person leaving foster care.
Subject terms:
independence, internet, leaving care, life skills, looked after children, training, computers;
Southwark Council in London launched a coaching scheme for care leavers to increase the numbers in education, training or employment. The scheme trained managers in coaching skills and then matched them with care leavers. The scheme is currently in its early stages. A coach and a care leaver give their views of participating in the scheme.
Southwark Council in London launched a coaching scheme for care leavers to increase the numbers in education, training or employment. The scheme trained managers in coaching skills and then matched them with care leavers. The scheme is currently in its early stages. A coach and a care leaver give their views of participating in the scheme.
Subject terms:
leaving care, local authorities, looked after children, mentoring, training, education, employment;
Over the years there has been a constant message from central government to local government that young people in care should be involved in decision making. This has prompted A National Voice to instigate and pilot the Lilac (Lifelong Improvement for Looked After Children) project with five volunteer organisations and two local authorities three years ago. They now have lottery funding to roll it out nationally.
Over the years there has been a constant message from central government to local government that young people in care should be involved in decision making. This has prompted A National Voice to instigate and pilot the Lilac (Lifelong Improvement for Looked After Children) project with five volunteer organisations and two local authorities three years ago. They now have lottery funding to roll it out nationally.
Subject terms:
joint working, leaving care, local authorities, looked after children, voluntary sector, young people, decision making, empowerment;
The factors which help young care leavers achieve independent living are discussed. The importance of providing support to young people at risk of poor housing outcomes and the need for good integration between housing and childrens services are identified.
The factors which help young care leavers achieve independent living are discussed. The importance of providing support to young people at risk of poor housing outcomes and the need for good integration between housing and childrens services are identified.
Subject terms:
independence, housing, housing conditions, leaving care, looked after children;
A number of schemes which provide support care leavers who want to enter higher education are discussed. They include the charity Break in Norfolk and the University of East Anglia, which is one of the latest Universities to be awarded a quality mark by grant aid body the Frank Buttle Trust for excellence in meeting the needs of care leavers.
A number of schemes which provide support care leavers who want to enter higher education are discussed. They include the charity Break in Norfolk and the University of East Anglia, which is one of the latest Universities to be awarded a quality mark by grant aid body the Frank Buttle Trust for excellence in meeting the needs of care leavers.
Subject terms:
higher education, leaving care, looked after children;
A recent Ofsted study of council care leavers' services, ‘Support for Care Leavers', has pointed the way to best practice in key areas of young people's lives. Examples of good practice in the areas of housing, employment and education are identified.
A recent Ofsted study of council care leavers' services, ‘Support for Care Leavers', has pointed the way to best practice in key areas of young people's lives. Examples of good practice in the areas of housing, employment and education are identified.
Subject terms:
housing, leaving care, young people, education, employment;
Step (Supported Tenancies Employment Pathways) is a project in Hartlepool which is giving care leavers the chance to lead settled lives of their own. The service, run by Disc (Developing Initiatives, Supporting Communities), which helps 16- to 24-year-olds find and maintain a home, and supports them into education, training or employment is described.
Step (Supported Tenancies Employment Pathways) is a project in Hartlepool which is giving care leavers the chance to lead settled lives of their own. The service, run by Disc (Developing Initiatives, Supporting Communities), which helps 16- to 24-year-olds find and maintain a home, and supports them into education, training or employment is described.
Subject terms:
independence, housing, leaving care, young people;