Ofsted published report on support for care leavers
This report illustrates how effective strategies and services help improve the quality of life for care leavers and assist them to make successful transitions into adulthood and independence.
It is a small-scale survey based on visits to six local authorities and four secure provisions; it also draws on evidence from social care inspection and takes account of care leavers’ views and experiences. The report identifies how barriers to positive outcomes for care leavers have been overcome. The report has recommendations for the DCSF and local authorities on how to to improve outcomes and includes practice examples under the following themes, which also link to the themes of the national leaving care standards:
- Corporate parenting, commissioning and partnerships
- Preparation for leaving care
- Pathway planning and leaving care support services
- the effectiveness of strategies and services on outcomes for care leavers
- Health
- Accommodation
- Education
- Employment
- Inclusion of different groups of care leavers
- Advocacy and participation
Download the report
National Benchmarking forum a positive resource
The report draws attention to the National Benchmarking forum as an important development tool for leaving care services. It states:
"attendance at national leaving care conferences and events, having access to research dissemination networks and taking part in the National Care Advisory Service benchmarking forums provided focused learning opportunities." (p.17)