Survey spurs inspection call

Services for care leavers in all local authorities are to be
inspected next year.

The news of the national survey by the Social Services
Inspectorate comes as new standards for care leaving services go
out to consultation. The standards have been drawn up by the
leaving care organisation, First Key, local authority associations
and the Association of Directors of Social Services.

Full results of a survey of 24 local authorities last year by
the SSI are expected shortly, along with a major research study
monitoring care leavers which found at least half had some form of
monitoring for care leavers.

Next month the Department of Health and Community Care are
holding two major conferences on leaving care, in Bolton and
London.

Meanwhile 109 MPs from all the main political parties have
signed Conservative MP Roger Sims’ early day motion calling for
better services for young people leaving care.

The motion promotes Community Care‘s campaign de mand
that the government introduce mandatory monitoring of care
leavers.