Care leavers guidance launched

Guidelines aimed at improving the life chances
of young care leavers were launched by the Department of Health,
the government’s homelessness directorate and homelessness charity
Centrepoint this week.

They
are designed to give UKcouncils a framework to evaluate existing
services and accommodation, identify any gaps and create a
multi-agency approach to working with care leavers. They recommend
care leavers are provided with education, employment and training
opportunities.

Councils are obliged to improve
support and accommodation for young care leavers following the
Children (Leaving Care) Act 2001 and the Homelessness Act
2002.

Speaking at the launch, social
services chief inspector Denise Platt said: “We are determined to
make sure that children and young people looked after by councils
are given as good a chance in life as possible.”

–
Care Leaving Strategies: A Good Practice Handbook is
available from 0870 1226 236