Consistent support needed for young care leavers |
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Becoming homeless, not being able to cope or receive help when needed and not having enough money to live on. Are some of the issues young care leavers worry about when leaving care. A report published today by Dr Roger Morgan, the Children's Rights Director for England, details the support young people in, and formerly in, residential and foster care receive from social services, when leaving care. It reflects a consistent theme of young people not knowing what their entitlements and aftercare services are, with a number of them being misinformed. The overall impression conveyed was that of a lottery, with some of them enjoying excellent preparation and support, whilst others received little or no help at all.As a requirement of law, young people should receive a leaving care or pathway plan. This plan, drawn up in agreement with the social worker and care leaver, details how they will be supported after leaving care. A significant number in the groups stated they had not been given a say and did not know they could contribute to its content. Those that had a chance to comment or had seen their plan commented on the lack of attention to housing, continuing education or making them aware of what social services provide. Dr Morgan said: "A number of issues raised have seriously concerned me. The lack of awareness of leaving care plans and what they should contain is devastating for many care leavers, given that an agreement to this plan is a requirement set out in law, this leads to a lack of preparation and support.
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