Every Care Leaver to Receive Dedicated Support Following Comprehensive Review

Thousands of young individuals transitioning out of the care system will soon have enhanced support networks as the government initiates a nationwide rollout of an improved housing programme, bolstered by a £25 million investment this year alone. This initiative aims to foster high-quality and innovative housing models that promote connections for those leaving care.

Addressing Fatalities Among Care Leavers

This announcement coincides with the release of an independent review commissioned by the government, which examines the premature deaths of young people who have exited the care system. The review is spearheaded by author and broadcaster Ashley John-Baptiste alongside social work leader Clare Chamberlain, and it reveals heart-wrenching stories of six young individuals who passed away between the ages of 18 and 24. Those who had known them described them as devoted, lively, and kind-hearted, yet one poignant account from a young person within the report encapsulates their plight, describing them as ‘on their own.’

The review’s primary conclusion highlights a profound sense of isolation faced by young people leaving care. While services often cater to their understandable desire for independence, this transition can inadvertently lead to loneliness, leaving them without close companions to recognise when struggles arise.

Changing the Care Landscape

The report advocates for three critical changes: enhancing how young individuals are equipped for adulthood, addressing the abrupt decline in support upon reaching 18, and improving the skills of the workforce that assists them. In response, the government is advancing the national implementation of connected housing options for care leavers, with an emphasis on expanding the Staying Close programme. This initiative will promote housing models similar to Shared Lives Plus, The House Project, and Supported Lodgings across the entire country. For young people, this transformation promises a significant boost in their likelihood of securing homes that foster community and connection, rather than relegating them to isolation in unsuitable accommodation.

Commitment from Government Officials

Children’s Minister Josh MacAlister expressed his sentiments regarding the review, stating, “Every one of these young lives mattered, and behind each of them lies a story of enormous loss – for their families, for their friends, and for the people who cared for them.” He emphasised the obligation to ensure that care transforms into a system that prioritises enduring relationships, asserting that care should build rather than dismantle the connections essential for young people. He conveyed his gratitude to Ashley and Clare for their diligent efforts on the review, urging society as a whole to contribute to preventing isolation among care leavers.

Voices of Experience

Reflecting on the review, Ashley John-Baptiste remarked, “As a care-experienced broadcaster, I’ve been privileged to cover many aspects of the care system. However, nothing could have prepared me for the devastating stories we’ve encountered during this work.” He underscored the importance of recognising the lives of these care leavers, hoping that the review would shed light on their experiences and the failures they endured, ultimately serving as a catalyst for change.

Clare Chamberlain added, “This review has reinforced what care leavers have told us for years: the state is no substitute for family. We need to do more to prevent the acute loneliness that the most vulnerable experience after leaving care.” In 2025, the Department for Education recorded 112 deaths of care leavers aged 18 to 24, representing an estimated rate of 130 per 100,000, significantly higher than their peers.

New Responsibilities for Public Services

Following a concerning trend identified by the Children’s Minister in the reports of early fatalities, Ashley and Clare were commissioned to conduct this vital review. Additionally, the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act will see more public bodies assume the role of corporate parents, mandating that the NHS, job centres, prisons, and probation services consider the needs of care leavers in their service design. From 30 September, new obligations will require councils to publish their strategies for aiding care leavers in their transition to independent living, and from that date, a care leaver cannot be classified as intentionally homeless.