leavingcare.org

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Updated July 2008.

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Archived News (pre 2007)

  

October 2007

National Care Leavers' Week 2007

This week is National Care Leavers week, raising awareness among public and politicians alike about the ongoing needs of care leavers, and the inadequate levels of support which these young people receive when they leave care.

National Care Leavers' Week is a joint initiative of all the major charities working with and for care leavers and is coordinated by the Bryn Melyn Group Foundation. To view the Care Leavers week magazine, click here.

WMTD is hosting two large events this week. In London, on 23rd Oct at the Hilton Hotel, and in Leeds on 25th Oct at the Queen's hotel. To download the conference brochure click here. 

Watch this space for more news and information from the conferences!

  

September 2007  

New statistics released about children in care

The latest statistics for children in care came out yesterday – these are from the SSDA 903 returns for children 1 April 2006 to 31 March 2007.

Summary

Children who ceased to be looked after aged 16 years and over during year ending 31 March 2007

  • 8,000 children aged 16 years and over ceased to be looked after in the year (slight decrease from last year 8,200 but increase from 6,700 in 2003).
  • 58% of young people ceased to be looked after on their 18th birthday and 25% when aged 16 and 16% when 17 only 1% older than 18th birthday
  • There has been in increase in the percentage of those ceasing to be looked after over 16 from Asian or African background (was 1% in 2003 now 5% in 2007 for Asian background and was 6% in 2003 now 10% in 2007).
  • Before ceasing to be looked after 38% were in foster placement, 27% in hostel/children home/secure unit and 23% placed in the community and 6% placed with parents
  • 44% had at least 1 GCSE (last year 43%) and 7% at least 5 grade A* to C (last year 6%)

Children now aged 19 who were looked after 1 April 2004 then aged 16

  • % in education (not higher education) increased from 15% in 2003 to 26% in 2007.
  • the number in training or employment was 31% in 2007 (34% last year and 28% 2003)
  • 6% in higher education (studies beyond A level) (consistent with last few years).
  • the number not in touch decreased from 20% in 2003 to 8% in 2007.
  • 43% of YP were ‘independent living’, 12% with parent/relatives, 8% in supported lodgings
  • there were 400 mothers aged 19

Children in care (overall very little change compared to previous years):

  • 60,000 LAC at 31 March 2007 (very similar to last year 60,300)
  • Slight decrease in number of White British origin children but still the majority group (74% in 2007 compared to 77% in 2003)
  • Slight decrease in number looked after on care order – in 2007 64%, in 2006 67% and 69% in 2003
  • Slight increase in proportion in FC in 2007 71% compared to 69% in 2006 and 68% in 2003
  • 3,300 UASC in 2007 – similar to last 4 years but represents an increase of 49% on 2003 figure of 2200 (increase in children from Asian backgrounds)
  • 360 mothers were aged over 12 at 31 March 2007 (increase 15% from last year)
  • 3,300 children were adopted during year (12% decrease on previous year 3700 children were adopted)

 See below for full report:http://www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000741/SFR27-2007.pdf

WMTD National Care Leavers Week events  

WMTD has released the final programme for its two National Care Leavers Week events, held in association with Rainer, NLCAS and Care & Health and supported by Equal.  The two events will be held in London (23rd Oct) at the Hilton Metropole, Edgeware Road, and in Leeds (25th Oct) at The Queen's Hotel, City Square.

The conference will provide an opportunity for policy makers, managers, professionals and ‘involved’ young people to come together to hear about and discuss the key messages from the Care Matters: Time for Change White Paper. We aim to showcase the Care Matters proposals with related examples of practice and give attendees an opportunity to see how to make "The Difference" i.e. how workers, managers and policy makers, alongside young people can work together to improve outcomes.

Contributors for the morning conference programme include Kevin Brennan MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Young People and Families, Ann Weinstock, DCSF, Jean Humphrys, OFSTED and ADCS Leads along with research messages from Professor Mike Stein at York University. 

The afternoon programme includes workshops on the following themes:

  • Research (including social pedagoguey and international perspectives on ‘what works’),
  • Accommodation & care
  • Empowerment/ Service User Involvement
  • Education & training
  • Preparation for independence
  • Employment and health & well being

In addition, the "Fayre Exchange", a vibrant marketplace of around 30 stalls, will showcase good practice from around the UK.

Places are free and running out fast. To book your place please visit:

www.careandhealth.com and to download a conference brochure, please click here.

  

Aug 2007

Venues annouced for "the Difference" Care Leavers week event.

WMTD are happy to annouce that the Hilton Metropole, Edgware Road will be the venue for our London Care Leavers week event on Tuesday 23rd October.  The Queen's Hotel, Leeds will be hosting our second event on Thursday October 25th.  Click on this link to book!:

http://event.concepglobal.com/profile/web/index.cfm?PKwebID=0x22058757

Latest WMTD professionals' Newsletter out now

The latest edition of WMTD's newsletter for professionals is now out and available to download. Please click here.

  

July 2007

Latest WMTD young people's Network Newsletter out now

The latest edition of Network news (out June 2007) is available to download. Please click here.

 

WMTD to hold 2 free events during Care Leavers Week in October 2007

During National Care Leavers Week (22nd – 26th Oct), WMTD will be holding free dissemination conferences, in London (23rd) and Leeds (25th). The events will include speakers, workshops, stalls and much more, watch this space!

 

June 2007

 Welcome to Leavingcare.org!

The What Makes the Difference? project (WMTD) and the National Leaving Care Service (NLCAS) at Rainer launched www.leavingcare.org in early May 2007.

www.leavingcare.org aims to be the most comprehensive website on all issues concerning young people in or leaving care. It is packed with useful information, including national standards for care services, a self assessment system, policy and legislation, rights, events, national contacts, current news, research and an enquiries form.

The site is divided into 3 distinct areas, which cater for ‘Young People’, ‘Professionals’ and ‘Public and The Media’.

The website is continually evolving and October 2007 is set as our formal launch date.  In October it will be possible for young people and professionals to rate their leaving care service against a set of nationally developed standards. 

In October 2007 it will also be possible to download good practice tools, currently being collected from local authorities across the UK which are designed to improve and develop services. It will allow service providers to see and learn from some of the best practice across the country.

We want this website to be as useful and relevant to you as possible. We want to hear your feedback about what works, what doesn't and what can be improved - please email any comments to nlcas@nlcas.org.

This website is for all to use and develop. If you have anything you want to add to the site, then again, just contact us at nlcas@nlcas.org.  We are particularly interested in:

  • details of relevant forthcoming events, such as training, seminars & conferences.
  • links to useful websites.
  • new publications or research findings, including details of how to obtain them.

 

 New course for Professionals working with Care Leavers: Understanding the emotional needs of Care Leavers  

New course run by Tavistock Centre - aimed at Leaving Care professionals. Course runs from September 2007 - November 2007. Please click download for flyer/booking form.

 

What's on?

For up to date information on the latest events across the country, please visit our events calendar - available from 16th May 2007. If you have an event you want to let us know about, please email nlcas@nlcas.org

 

WMTD products - available soon!

In October 2007 WMTD will be releasing a range of products designed specifically for professionals and young people in or leaving care. Watch this space! 

 

WMTD producing a film!

WMTD is in the first stages of producing a film to accompany our Corporate Parenting book, due for release in autumn 2007. The film will involve young people at every stage of production including production, editing and acting!

 

May 2007

Care Matters - Green Paper

The National Leaving care Advisory Service, Action on Aftercare Consortium, What Makes the Difference? project and National Leaving Care Benchmarking Forum submitted a joint response to the Care Matters consultation.

Read our responses here.

Read our summary document here.

Read our press release on the publication of Care Matters here.

 

Care Matters - young people's response

The Governement have published the responses from young people to Care Matters. This is the first step in therir Next Steps process that will continue with a white paper later this year. The responses publication can be found at: http://www.dfes.gov.uk/publications/carematters/index.shtml

  

April 2007

WMTD's Professionals Newsletter - April 2007 issue is now available

WMTD's newsletter for Professionals working with young people in and leaving care is also available. You can read the latest April 2007 issue online now. Click here to view.

 

Introduction of minimum allowances for Foster Carers from April 2007

The government has announced the introduction of minimum allowances for Foster Carers from April 2007. For more information on this issue see the Fostering Network website www.fostering.net

  

March 2007

NLCAS Keynotes email update - March 2007 is now available

keynotes email update is a supplementary publication that contains current information that can not wait till the next issue of keynotes. Click here to view.

 

WMTD's Network News - March 2007 issue is now available  

Network News is WMTD's newsletter for young people in and leaving care. You can read the latest March 2007 issue online now. Click here to view.