CYP Now - Inspections Clinic: Leaving care services

Evidence from Ofsted shows support to help care leavers transition to independence is still lacking. The inspectorate tells Jo Stephenson of its plans to sharpen councils’ focus on improving provision.

Some young people likened the transition from care to independent living to being abandoned with support suddenly dropping away. Picture: Adobe Stock

Findings from Ofsted’s recently published research on the experiences of care leavers make for dispiriting reading.

Despite efforts made by many children’s services teams to ensure children in care are supported to move on and live happy, independent lives, the report shows many feel unprepared, isolated and alone.

Young people are still being given bin bags to pack their possessions in – a practice social care leaders promised to do away with more than 15 years ago.

“It is frustrating for those of us who have spent many years in children’s services, thinking we have made improvements and then not seeing them embedded and sustained,” says Ofsted’s national director for social care Yvette Stanley.

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