News

Children Being 'Pushed Out' Of Care And Onto The Streets

25 Mar 2008

Vulnerable children are leaving care when they are too young, ending up homeless and potentially vulnerable to drug/alcohol problems and unemployment, according to a new report by Scotland’s Commissioner for Children and Young People.

Sweet 16? exposes the gap between policy and practice with regard to children and young people leaving care. (1) The Commissioner today (26 March) warned that, with the highest number of children in care since 1982, more and more young people will struggle to cope with the harsh realities of full independence. (2)

Eight times as many young people leave care at 16 as leave at 18, despite law and policy strongly advising that they should be encouraged to stay in care until they are 18. Many go on to live in bed and breakfasts and hostels for the homeless. (3) The report highlights the case of a young person who was in a B&B with a convicted murderer as a fellow guest (p10, p63).

Sometimes those with more complex needs are encouraged to leave early (p9) and both young people and workers report a strong culture that assumes 16 is the age that people should leave care.

Kathleen Marshall, Scotland’s Commissioner for Children and Young People, said, “Though policies do offer looked after young people care until they are 18, in practice they are often pushed out of the system at 16. Last year, for instance, around 1330 children left care but over half of those were 16.

“In many cases, children and young people in care are seen as a troublesome burden rather than a vulnerable person to be nurtured, cared for and listened to. At just 16 years old - the very time that they need help to cope, adjust, and find their place in the world - many are all but completely abandoned with little, if any, aftercare. Turning 16 should be an exciting prospect – not one that brings the harsh realities of adult life without support, guidance and care.”

Heather Gray, Director of Who Cares? Scotland, the charity that provides advocacy and support for children and young people who are accommodated and looked, said, “Children and young people are telling us of their need for support beyond the age of 16. This has to be planned and co-coordinated with an emphasis on building their skills and confidence. Listening to their concerns is vital if we are to address, with urgency, the problems that most definitely exist.”

Tam Baillie, Assistant Director of Policy and Influencing at Barnardo’s Scotland, said ‘’Nowadays, most young people stay at home well into their twenties, yet most looked after young people leave care aged 16 or 17. We need to ask ourselves why our most vulnerable young people are expected to be fully independent at such a young age, often in very difficult circumstances, as the report highlights. It simply is not good enough - we need more progressive practices that significantly increase the average age of leaving care.’’

ENDS

For copies of the report or to arrange an interview with Kathleen Marshall please contact Esther Black at Pagoda PR: 0131 556 0770/07766 493 163/esther.black@pagodapr.com

For cases studies see p 37 and p44.

The full report, and a version for young people, will be available from Wednesday morning at www.sccyp.org.uk

Notes to Editors

1. The report is based on a review of information provided by all 32 Scottish local authorities, interviews and focus groups with workers and young people in 13 local authority areas, as well as desk based research.

Key recommendations include (see section 12):

- Firm steps must be taken to change the culture that expects young people to leave care at 16. Policy and practice should emphasise that young people are entitled to proper care and support up until the age of 18. (no. 3)

- Young people leaving care should not have to be made “homeless” in order to be regarded as a priority for housing allocation. (no. 13)

- The Scottish Government should ban the use of bed and breakfast accommodation for young people leaving care. Neither should young people be placed in hostels for the homeless. (nos. 14 and 15)

- Local authorities should develop more semi-independent living units (no. 7)

- The Scottish Government should review the eligibility threshold for aftercare so that a young person may qualify for care even if s/he leave ceases to be looked after before reaching school leaving age (no. 18)

2. In 2007, there were over 14,000 looked after children, an increase of 26% since 1999 and the highest number since 1982 (p22, table 3).

3. In 2007, of those leaving care who are eligible for aftercare services, 18 aged 15-16, 25 aged 17 and 44 aged 18, were homeless (p24, table 6). These figures exclude those who leave care before reaching the minimum school leaving age, who disappear from statistics and whose fate is unknown.

4. The Commissioner is independent of both the Scottish Parliament and the Scottish Government. Her remit is to promote and safeguard the rights of children and young people, with particular emphasis on the rights set out in the 1989 United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. She also monitors the law, policy and practice for effectiveness in relation to the rights of children and young people and promotes best practice by service providers working with children.