This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Looked After Children 2005-06
16/11/2006
The latest statistics on children who were looked after or receiving after care support between April 1, 2005, and March 31, 2006, are published today.
- As at March 31, 2006, 12,966 children were looked after by local authorities, an increase of 6 per cent from 2005. However this year for the first time young people aged 18 or over are included in these statistics. When the 216 young people aged 18 or over are excluded, the increase since 2005 is 5 per cent
- The proportion of children who are looked after in Scotland has been rising steadily since 2000 and this year reached 1.16 per cent of the child population, the highest since 1982
- An additional 2,213 children were looked after on a series of short-term respite placements, an increase of 10 per cent from 2005 (young people aged 18 or over were not included here)
- Fifty-six per cent of looked after children were placed at home with parents or with friends/relatives. Thirteen per cent (1,638) were looked after in residential accommodation
- Of the young people who left care during 2005-06 beyond minimum school leaving age, 50 per cent had at least one qualification at SCQF level 3 or above and 34 per cent had both English and Maths at SCQF level 3 or above. This is an increase of 8 and 6 percentage points respectively since 2005. The improvement was greatest amongst young people ceasing to be looked after at home
- There were over 2,800 young people reported to be entitled to aftercare during 2005-06, of which Local Authorities had lost touch with 15 per cent. Approximately thirty-seven per cent of young people receiving aftercare with known economic activity were in education, training or employment
LOOKED AFTER CHILDREN
- As at March 31, 2006, 12,966 children were looked after by local authorities, an increase of 6 per cent from 2005. However this year for the first time young people aged 18 or over are included in these statistics. When the 216 young people aged 18 or over are excluded, the increase since 2005 is 5 per cent
- Two per cent of children who had been looked after away from home for between 6 weeks and 6 months had experienced 6 or more placements within that period of being looked after and sixty-seven per cent had experienced only one placement
- The proportion of children looked after in residential accommodation was 13 per cent nationally and ranged from 6 per cent in Clackmannanshire to 31 per cent in Orkney
- An additional 2,213 children were looked after on a series of short-term respite placements in 2005-06, an increase of 10 per cent from the previous year and 28 per cent from 1999-00. Nearly half of all children looked after on a series of short term respite placements were looked after in residential establishments. Over one quarter were looked after by foster carers
CARE LEAVERS
- Of the 3,882 episodes of care that ended during 2005-06, 37 per cent had been under 1 year long and just 1 per cent had been 10 years long or more
- Approximately 45 per cent of care leavers beyond minimum school leaving age who had been looked after at home achieved at least one qualification at SCQF level 3 or above, compared to 57 per cent of care leavers who had been looked after away from home
- Approximately 28 per cent of care leavers beyond minimum school leaving age who had been looked after at home achieved both English and Maths at SCQF level 3 or above, compared to 41 per cent of care leavers who had been looked after away from home
- Just over half of all care leavers beyond minimum school leaving age had a pathway plan and 60 per cent had a nominated pathway co-ordinator on 31st March 2006
YOUNG PEOPLE RECEIVING AFTERCARE
- Over 2,800 young people were reported as being entitled to receive aftercare during 2005-06, although as four local authorities did not provide any data and a further four provided incomplete data, all figures regarding aftercare should be used with caution
- Sixteen per cent of young people reported to be entitled to aftercare were no longer in touch with the local authority on 31st March 2006, and the accommodation of 13 per cent was unknown. Of those whose accommodation was known, 31 per cent were living independently, 20 per cent were living with their parents, 4 per cent were in custody and 6 per cent were homeless as at 31st March 2006
- Of the young people reported to be entitled to aftercare support who were still in touch with the local authority as at 31st March 2006, the economic activity of 23 per cent was unknown. Of those with known economic activity, 15 per cent were in education and 22 per cent were in employment or training. Five per cent were not in education, training or employment due to illness or disability, 7 per cent were looking after their family and 51 per cent were unemployed for other reasons
- Of young people reported to be entitled to aftercare support with a known economic activity and with a disability, 22 per cent were in employment, education or training compared to 41 per cent with no disability