This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Proposals to help young people leaving care
31/07/2003
Proposals to improve services for young people leaving
care have been launched.
They are designed to ensure young people are adequately
prepared for the next stage in their lives, whether they
choose to continue with their education or enter employment
or training.
They will also ensure care leavers have somewhere safe
to live, appropriate help with their income and access to
local health services, to help them make a successful
transition to independent living.
For example, they propose:
- Improvements in the way assessments of young
people's needs are carried out
- Closer involvement of young people in the
throughcare and aftercare process
- Strengthening follow-up contact for young people
leaving care, to ensure they receive the support they
need
Launching the
draft guidance during a visit to the Carolina House
Trust in Dundee today, Deputy Education and Young People
Minister Euan Robson said:
"Sadly, too many young people leaving local authority
care become involved in substance abuse and crime or become
homeless. We must take action to prevent this by giving
them extra support before and after leaving care, and
ensure they have access to the same opportunities which
other young people enjoy.
"The draft regulations and guidance launched today
propose a major step forward in improving services and
support for these vulnerable young people.
"They make clear that the needs of young people must
come first and services should be built around them. I am
encouraged that it recognises the importance of helping
young people realise their aspirations so they can fulfil
their potential and play a full and active role in
society.
"There is already a great deal of good work being done,
for example the support service being provided by the
Carolina House Trust in conjunction with Dundee City
Council. We must build on this work and encourage best
practice to be shared.
"Leaving home is a daunting experience for most young
people, but particularly for looked after children who
often do not have parents and relatives to call on for
support. It is therefore crucial that these vulnerable
young people receive the appropriate support to enable them
to make a successful a transition to adult life."
There are around 11,000 children and young people looked
after by local authorities, including 1,300 who are aged
over 16.
The
consultation is part of a commitment in the
Partnership Agreement to improve services for young
people leaving care. It will last for three months.
Following this, it is anticipated that the regulations, due
to come into effect April 2004, will be introduced in the
Scottish Parliament in the Autumn.
The draft regulations cover assessment of needs, the
manner in which support can be provided and appeal
mechanisms. The guidance follows the structure of the
regulations and provides commentary on its provisions as
well as practical examples of good practice and the central
role of young people in the process plus the importance of
preparing them.
These proposals develop those made by the Throughcare
and Aftercare Working Group which includes representatives
from the Association of Directors of Social Work (ADSW),
Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA), Scottish
Council for Single Homeless, Scottish Throughcare and
Aftercare Forum (STAAF) Careers Scotland and Who Cares?
Scotland. The group was established in November 1999 to
advise ministers on how to improve services for looked
after children and the general approach was put to
consultation last summer.
The Executive has set targets for local authorities to
improve the educational attainment of young people in
care.