Family Solicitors

The chair of the Commons Public Accounts Committee, Meg Hillier, has said that England's local authorities are “turning their backs” on young people leaving their care.

BBC News reports that Ms Hillier said that just eight out of 151 local councils know where all their care leavers are living, despite a duty to stay in touch with them – and two-thirds of care leavers' services have been rated inadequate or requiring improvement by Ofsted.

The National Audit Office report Care Leavers' Transition to Adulthood, has been scrutinised by the committee.

The report reveals that the number of young people leaving care has increased significantly – and has almost doubled from 6,900 in 2003-2004 to 10,310 ten years later.

Town halls say the care system is becoming an “increasing challenge” – and the Local Government Association has said this is because of the growing number of youngsters entering the care system and increasingly stretched budgets.

The report says young people in care have often had “difficult lives” – and have begun to live independently much sooner than other youngsters from more stable backgrounds.
Around 62% of children in care have been abused or neglected, which may have a lasting impact on their mental and emotional health.

The report says the government aims to ensure that care leavers receive the same level of care and support as children from “a reasonable parent” – including help with finding a job or setting up home, as well as general support to help them move successfully into adulthood.

However, the report says that high staff turnover and heavy workloads among social workers mean care leavers are not always receiving the support they are entitled to.

Mrs Hillier said:

“It seems local authorities are turning their back on young people leaving their care, when two-thirds of local authority services for care leavers have been rated 'inadequate' or 'requiring improvement' since November 2013.

“Care leavers are in dire need of effective care and support, but this report finds care leavers who are not involved in their care-leaving plans and who do not know what support they are entitled to.”

A spokesman for the Local Government Association said:
“Councils do what they can to support all care leavers.
“We desperately need to see the whole system properly funded and joined-up to ensure children and young people receive the support when they need it.

“It is vitally important that government departments work better together to continue the work to tackle our ineffective and fragmented mental health system.”
The Department for Education added that it was “committed to improving the lives of care leavers” – and helping them make a successful transition to adulthood.

“That's why we have introduced a comprehensive series of reforms to achieve this – including changing the law, so young people can live with their foster family after they turn 18 and giving every care leaver a personal adviser,” said the spokesman.

Duncan Lewis Family Solicitors

Duncan Lewis family and child care solicitors can advise parents, guardians and those with parental responsibility on a wide range of family and child care law matters, including children taken into Local Authority care, care proceedings, guardianship, wardship and adoption.
There are Duncan Lewis offices nationwide and our family department also advises on all divorce matters, including child care arrangements, separation agreements, dissolution of a civil partnership and court orders.

For expert legal advice on family law and child care matters, call Duncan Lewis family solicitors on 020 7923 4020.