Transition to adulthood

All young people who are leaving the looked after system should continue to be looked after until they are 18 years, if it is in their best interests, and supported as necessary beyond this point under the requirements of the Supporting Young People Leaving Care Regulations.

The timing of any move should be based on the readiness of the young person and whether they have been equipped with the necessary skills to make any move successfully. This will therefore not be determined by age but rather by the capability of the young person to move to this challenging phase of their life.

Stability and continuity are vital when considering the right time to leave care. Young people who are experiencing other important events (for example, studying for exams) should generally not have the added issue of dealing with moving to independent living. Close attention should also be paid to the impact on entitlement to aftercare support of ceasing to be looked after before school leaving age.

'By age 21 around 13% of looked after young people in Scotland are not in education, employment or training. They are much more likely than average to suffer mental health problems and to have a criminal record, and are much less likely to have educational qualifications.' (Missing Out report, HMIE, 2006).

Care leavers, for example, may need particular support to move successfully from school into education, employment or training.

Supporting looked after young people and care leavers with Pathways

All young people who are leaving the looked after system should continue to be looked after until they are 18, if it is in their best interests, and supported as necessary beyond this point, under the requirements of the Supporting Young People Leaving Care Regulations. 

Amongst other things, this requires local authorities to carry out a Pathways Assessment to identify each young person's needs, to agree a Pathways Plan and to review that Plan regularly.

Extraordinary Lives

The Extraordinary Lives report, a review published in September 2006, also highlighted a range of factors which make care leavers feel more safe, secure and valued, thus helping them become more successful and responsible.

Around 200 young people and adults with first-hand experience of the care system were consulted during the review, carried out by the Social Work Inspection Agency.

The report concluded that corporate parents could do much better but when looked after children and young people did get the right help, particularly where they are supported by adults who believe in them and have the skills to help them, they go on to be happy and successful.

More Choices, More Chances

The most recent figures state that of the young people eligible for aftercare services, who were in touch with the local authority and whose economic activity was known, 62% were not in education, employment or training, compared to 12.4% of all 16-19-year-olds in Scotland.

More Choices, More Chances is the Scottish Government action plan aimed at reducing the number of young people not in education, employment or training; it identifies care leavers as a key subgroup for action.