Department for Education publishes new guideline on children in care and care leavers

Two new documents have been published outlining changes to the guideline on children in care and care leavers. These documents outline how children in care and previously looked-after should be educated and also the extension of personal advisors for care leavers up to the age of 25.

The documents outline key duties that must be upheld for the professionals that work with these groups. In addition, the government has announced extra funding for new projects aimed at supporting care leavers.

The new guidance outlines the strict need for looked after children who are in school to ensure that “appropriate education provision for a child is arranged at the same time as a care placement.” This is to be the responsibility of key professionals, including social workers, virtual school heads, independent reviewing officers school admission officers, and Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) departments.

The guidelines also take into account training for the professionals responsible for promoting young people’s education and ensuring that standards are met. This responsibility lies with the Virtual School Heads who are tasked with promoting educational achievement for looked-after children.

Children’s Minister, Nadhim Zahawi, discussed the increase in funding for the personal advisor extension, stating:

“Leaving care can be difficult and we want to improve the support available to these young people so they are not navigating life’s milestones alone. The programmes we are announcing today will help care leavers make the transition to adulthood more smoothly, improving the opportunities available to them whether in education, employment or training.”

Jenna Southworth, Associate Director of Ashberry Recruitment said: “These updated guidelines, in particular those relating to the ongoing support for care leavers up to the age of 25, is excellent news for both Ashberry clients and candidates alike.

Our busy Social Care Team work with a number of leaving care providers, who can now continue providing the amazing support they do to these underprivileged young people. This in turn gives our candidates the opportunity to continue the remarkable work they undertake with these youngsters every single day, enhancing their chances of positive outcomes as independent adults.

Ashberry can be proud to play even a small part in their transition to independent living and see this as wonderful news for the sector.”

More information on each of the new guidelines can be found here:

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/683701/Extending_Personal_Adviser_support_to_all_care_leavers_to_age_25.pdf

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/683556/Promoting_the_education_of_looked-after_children_and_previously_looked-after_children.pdf