We are all too aware of the failings of services to support care leavers and the dire consequences that this has including disproportionately high levels of unemployment, homelessness, imprisonment, substance abuse and tragically suicide.
There are a plethora of organisations established to support care leavers, but it is evidently not enough. The government has recently published a requirement for local authorities to collect data on all care leavers up to 25 (previously 21) but stating that information only needs to be provided for 22- to 25-year-olds “who have been in touch with you”.
Does the government not realise that most care leavers don’t bother getting in touch with councils because history has shown that it’s a waste of time as they receive little or no assistance? If it were possible to maintain contact with all care leavers the data is likely to produce even more depressing findings.
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