News 
Children's Commissioner Seeks Updates To Report On The Fate Of Children Leaving Care
20 February 2009
Kathleen Marshall, Scotland’s Commissioner for Children and Young People is seeking input into a follow-up report to the groundbreaking Sweet 16? publication which highlighted how vulnerable children were often leaving care when they were too young, exposing them to the risk of being homeless and resorting to drug and alcohol abuse.
Published in March last year, the Sweet 16? Report prompted a debate in parliament and a commitment from Adam Ingram, Minister for Children and Early Years to give the matter his full attention. Areas of greatest concern surrounded the widespread perception that a child should leave care at 16 rather than 18, and the use of inappropriate housing, such as B&Bs or hostels, for young people just starting out. The report found that support and aftercare were also lacking.
Kathleen Marshall said:
“My office is contacting local authorities to find out what they have done to implement the recommendations in this report. But we need to hear from people who have direct experience of working with young people who are being asked to leave care.
“We have learned informally of how some people have used the report – to advocate for young people, to challenge funding cuts, to change local policies, to train workers but we would like more information to let us know what difference it is making and what still needs to be done.
“In the light of two reports published recently by the Care Commission it seems there is still much to do regarding the gap between policy and practice when it comes to young people leaving care.”
SCCYP found that eight times as many young people leave care aged 16 as do those aged 18. Law and policy advises that they should be encouraged to stay in care until 18 but, as the Care Commission also reported, local authorities themselves can lack the necessary trained and knowledgeable staff to properly help young people make this decision.
“By following up on Sweet 16? one year after publication, my office will continue to highlight the often harsh realities for looked after children and young people, and hope that local authorities respect the findings and act upon them to improve service delivery,” Ms Marshall said.
SCCYP is looking for information by the end of February 2009. The office can be contacted via email on info@sccyp.org.uk; phone 0131 558 3733; or fax 0131 556 3378. The address for responses is SCCYP, 85 Holyrood Rd, Edinburgh EH8 8AU.
Ends
Media contact: Barbara Fraser or Giselle Dye at Pagoda PR. Tel: 0131 556 0770, email:barbarafraser@pagodapr.com or giselledye@pagodapr.com
Notes to Editors
1. Key recommendations in the original Sweet 16? report include:
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.
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. 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.
