Rise in age of young people leaving care

The trend for children leaving care at 16 has
started to be reversed, the chief inspector of the Social Services
Inspectorate said last week.

Denise Platt explained that there were 1,200
fewer 16- and 17-year-olds leaving care in 2000-1 compared with
1998-9.

Platt expects the Children Leaving Care Act
2000 will make a huge difference to young people leaving care, with
children now guaranteed help and support until they are at least
21.

“Until the act came into force, young people
in care saw their 16th birthday or if they were lucky their 18th
birthday as something to be dreaded,” she told a conference in
London staged by Harrogate Centre for Excellence.