What are the key features of the strategy?
The strategy, which was published on 29 October, sets out the steps the government is taking across departments to support care leavers to live independently once they have left their placements. While the strategy does not seek to cover all the challenges care leavers may experience, it addresses difficulties arising in the main areas of concern: education, employment, financial support, health, housing, justice system and on-going support.
Why was the strategy adopted?
The government estimates that 10,000 young people aged between 16 and 18 leave care in England each year, after which they often experience a disrupted and unstable transition into adult life. The care leaver strategy therefore aims to develop an integrated framework of support for care leavers across the areas in which they are most likely to encounter difficulties.
What initiatives does the strategy include?
The strategy's education initiatives aim to improve care leavers' access to further and higher education and the provision of ongoing educational support. They include the government publishing a guide specifically for care leavers detailing where they can find advice about free training, careers advice, grants and other support.
To tackle the large number of care leavers not in education, employment or training, the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) will introduce a "marker" system enabling them to identify care leavers within Jobcentre Plus, and track and assess the support they are receiving. It also proposes to announce a new commitment for care leavers to join the work programme - a government initiative that provides work experience and training for up to two years to help people find stable employment.
To support the mental health of children and young people, the Department of Health plans to launch an interactive e-learning programme in 2014. Developers intend to invite care leavers to help shape the programme's content.
The proposed new statutory guidance on social housing currently undergoing consultation will recommend that local authorities, when adopting a residency test in their qualification criteria for social housing, consider the position of care leavers who have had placements across boroughs.
The Department for Education will amend Care Planning Regulations for 16- and 17-year-olds, so that a decision to end the young person's care will only be put into effect with the approval of the director of children's services.
What financial assistance will the government provide?
In addition to ensuring that care leavers can apply for Universal Credit before leaving care, the DWP will provide personal budgeting support to care leavers needing help in paying their bills on time, including the possibility of receiving Universal Credit payments more often than once a month. Statutory guidance will also be amended to encourage local authorities to pay at least £2,000 as part of the setting-up home allowance to care leavers.
