Recommendation 49

HM Government Acknowledged

The Civil Service care leaver internship scheme has enabled around 700 care leavers to take up posts in over 20 government departments across the UK. The government is committed to continuing to develop the scheme and each year all departments are encouraged to put forward the maximum number of vacancies for the scheme that they can. The ambitions of this award-winning scheme are to: provide opportunities to work in exciting roles across government; and give care leavers a ‘launch-pad’ into a successful working life and career by developing skills and experience for future roles in the Civil Service and beyond. We launched the latest round of the scheme on 8 August (closing on 5 September). There isn’t a target for how many care leavers are recruited each year, but this year 23 departments (including the Department for Education) have offered 241 internship opportunities, which have been advertised in 80 different locations in the UK. The government is keen to create similar employment opportunities in other large public sector employers, such as the NHS. We are aware that many local authorities already offer ring-fenced apprenticeships for care leavers but want to see this as standard practice across all local authorities. The care leaver covenant has an important role to play in securing employment and other offers for care leavers from a wide range of businesses and organisations. Approaching 350 organisations have now signed the covenant, providing: employment opportunities (Amazon); practical help with decorating their first home (Engie); discounts on services (Severn Trent Water); and care leaver friendly processes (Metro Bank). Information on all care leaver covenant opportunities is published online.36