Source · Select Committees · Education Committee
Recommendation 75
75
Accepted
Develop a National Care Offer ensuring minimum, harmonised support for care leavers nationwide.
Conclusion
As a priority, the Department for Education must develop a National Care Offer to harmonise the postcode lottery in entitlements and ensure that care leavers receive a minimum level of support, wherever they live. (Recommendation, Paragraph 194)
Government Response Summary
The government outlines the existing core package of support for care leavers under the Children Act 1989, which includes a Personal Adviser, accommodation, and financial support. It states that the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill will strengthen this by requiring local authorities to offer Staying Close support, and a new website has launched to improve awareness.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
We understand that care leavers often experience inconsistent support depending on their local authority and may not always be aware of what they are entitled to. However, all young people eligible for leaving care support are entitled to a core package under the Children Act 1989, which includes: • a Personal Adviser (PA) to support them to transition to independent living, up to age 25; • accommodation if they are aged 16 or 17; and support to ‘Stay Put’ with their former foster care up to age 21, if both the young person and former foster carer want it; • a leaving care grant to enable them to furnish their first home (which DfE recommends should be at least £3,000); and • support to engage in education, employment or training, including a £2,000 bursary if they go to university. The Government is further strengthening this support through the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, which will require local authorities to offer Staying Close support where needed. Beyond local authority provisions, care leavers can also access a £3,000 apprenticeship bursary and the higher one-bedroom rate of Housing Benefit or Housing Support under Universal Credit. To improve awareness of and access to support for care leavers, a new website has been launched which brings together all relevant information in an easily accessible format.9