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Support for care leavers has deteriorated over past seven years, says watchdog Support for care leavers has deteriorated over past seven years, says watchdog
(about 1 hour later)
Support for vulnerable young people leaving foster or residential care in order to live independent lives is in chaos, according to Whitehall’s spending watchdog.Support for vulnerable young people leaving foster or residential care in order to live independent lives is in chaos, according to Whitehall’s spending watchdog.
A third of those aged 16 or over who left care did so before their 18th birthday, contrary to the government’s legal obligation, according to a report by the National Audit Office (NAO) released on Friday. A third of those aged 16 and over who left care did so before their 18th birthday, contrary to the government’s legal obligation, according to a report by the National Audit Office (NAO) released on Friday.
Related: I left care at 15 and soon went to borstal. Young people can’t just be abandoned | David Akinsanya
It concludes that services have deteriorated for seven consecutive years. Cuts and poor management from central and local government have resulted in many young people leaving care early, it finds.It concludes that services have deteriorated for seven consecutive years. Cuts and poor management from central and local government have resulted in many young people leaving care early, it finds.
They often struggle to cope with the transition to adulthood and many experience social exclusion, unemployment and health problems or end up in custody, the report notes.They often struggle to cope with the transition to adulthood and many experience social exclusion, unemployment and health problems or end up in custody, the report notes.
Only eight of 151 councils in England know where young people who have left their care are living. It is understood that councils with poor services for care leavers include Rochdale, Birmingham, Devon and Somerset.Only eight of 151 councils in England know where young people who have left their care are living. It is understood that councils with poor services for care leavers include Rochdale, Birmingham, Devon and Somerset.
In an unusually strong statement, Amyas Morse, the head of the NAO, said stronger central and local leadership is urgently required to “get a grip of the problem”.In an unusually strong statement, Amyas Morse, the head of the NAO, said stronger central and local leadership is urgently required to “get a grip of the problem”.
He said: “The cost of [young people] not moving into adulthood successfully is high. The government has made a commitment to improve the support for these young people, but the outcomes for many have been deteriorating over the past seven years.”He said: “The cost of [young people] not moving into adulthood successfully is high. The government has made a commitment to improve the support for these young people, but the outcomes for many have been deteriorating over the past seven years.”
Related: I left care at 15 and soon went to borstal. Young people can’t just be abandoned | David Akinsanya
Care leavers shared harrowing stories of neglect with auditors. One said the struggle to cope after leaving care had defined their unhappiness for many years.Care leavers shared harrowing stories of neglect with auditors. One said the struggle to cope after leaving care had defined their unhappiness for many years.
They said: “There’s been all these fractured parts of myself that I have had to reconnect with ... but if that had happened when I was leaving care at 18, perhaps I’d have had a chance then to have had a family, a relationship.”They said: “There’s been all these fractured parts of myself that I have had to reconnect with ... but if that had happened when I was leaving care at 18, perhaps I’d have had a chance then to have had a family, a relationship.”
The least these young people should expect after receiving local authority care is to feel supported
Cuts in local mental health services have also affected care leavers disproportionately, the report finds. It highlights the testimony of one person, whose risk of self-harm was overlooked by a social worker.Cuts in local mental health services have also affected care leavers disproportionately, the report finds. It highlights the testimony of one person, whose risk of self-harm was overlooked by a social worker.
The interviewee said: “I was telling my social worker time and time again like, I’m not okay … and she was just kind of like ... oh … you’ve been to CAMHS [Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services]. Things got so bad, I ended up in A&E.”The interviewee said: “I was telling my social worker time and time again like, I’m not okay … and she was just kind of like ... oh … you’ve been to CAMHS [Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services]. Things got so bad, I ended up in A&E.”
Every year, about 10,000 16 to 18-year-olds leave foster or residential care in England. Children in care must leave local authority care by their 18th birthday but should be given support until they are 21. Every year, about 10,000 16- to 18-year-olds leave foster or residential care in England. Children in care must leave local authority care by their 18th birthday, but should be given support until they are 21.
The Department for Education sets the overall framework of support for care leavers but most services come from local authorities.The Department for Education sets the overall framework of support for care leavers but most services come from local authorities.
The report finds that in 2013/14, 10,310 young people aged 16 and over left care in England – a 50% increase in a decade. Of those, a third were under 18 and many were highly vulnerable.The report finds that in 2013/14, 10,310 young people aged 16 and over left care in England – a 50% increase in a decade. Of those, a third were under 18 and many were highly vulnerable.
In 2013-14, 41% of 19-year-old care leavers were not in education, employment or training, compared with only 15% of their age peers.In 2013-14, 41% of 19-year-old care leavers were not in education, employment or training, compared with only 15% of their age peers.
Auditors concluded that that the cost of not moving into adulthood successfully is likely to be high to care leavers and the public.Auditors concluded that that the cost of not moving into adulthood successfully is likely to be high to care leavers and the public.
Local authorities spent £6,250 on average for each care leaver in 2013-14, ranging from an estimated £300 to £20,000.Local authorities spent £6,250 on average for each care leaver in 2013-14, ranging from an estimated £300 to £20,000.
But auditors found little correlation between local authorities’ reported spending and the quantity and quality of their services.But auditors found little correlation between local authorities’ reported spending and the quantity and quality of their services.
Efforts to improve the situation are being hampered by a lack of reliable data about how the lives of care leavers developed over time, the report adds.Efforts to improve the situation are being hampered by a lack of reliable data about how the lives of care leavers developed over time, the report adds.
Meg Hillier, the chair of the public accounts committee, said it appeared that some local authorities were “turning their back” on care leavers.Meg Hillier, the chair of the public accounts committee, said it appeared that some local authorities were “turning their back” on care leavers.
She said: “Many young people in care have had difficult lives and face challenging social problems on leaving care. The least these young people should expect after receiving local authority care is to feel supported as they start living independently.”She said: “Many young people in care have had difficult lives and face challenging social problems on leaving care. The least these young people should expect after receiving local authority care is to feel supported as they start living independently.”
A Department for Education spokesperson said the government has introduced a comprehensive series of reforms to help care leavers, including changing the law so young people can live with their foster family after they turn 18.A Department for Education spokesperson said the government has introduced a comprehensive series of reforms to help care leavers, including changing the law so young people can live with their foster family after they turn 18.
The spokesperson said: “We are also investing more than £100m through the innovation programme to support vulnerable children, and funding programmes to get more care leavers into apprenticeships.”The spokesperson said: “We are also investing more than £100m through the innovation programme to support vulnerable children, and funding programmes to get more care leavers into apprenticeships.”
Separately, the NAO has refused to sign off the Department for Work and Pensions accounts because of an “unacceptably high level of fraud and error” in welfare payments.Separately, the NAO has refused to sign off the Department for Work and Pensions accounts because of an “unacceptably high level of fraud and error” in welfare payments.
While overpayments were down from 2% the previous year, this was “not a statistically significant change”, an NAO spokesman said.While overpayments were down from 2% the previous year, this was “not a statistically significant change”, an NAO spokesman said.