01 INTRODUCTION
The report Looked After Children and Young People; We Can and Must Do Better was published in January 2007. This was the result of a Ministerial Working Group which ran from November 2005 to June 2006 and considered what was required to improve educational, and other life outcomes for Scotland's Looked After children, young people and care leavers.
Action 12 within the Developing into Safe and Responsible Adults theme made a commitment to ask local authorities for what they considered examples of best practice in their authorities in terms of Section 30 of the Children (Scotland) Act 1995.
WORKING TOGETHER
Section 30 sets out when local authorities may give financial assistance towards the education or training expenses of young people who have ceased to be Looked After, regardless of whether they are Looked After away from home or remain with their birth parent, and meet the specified criteria. Annex 1 provides more detail on Section 30. A brief summary is attached at Annex 2 to clarify the statutory duties and powers contained within the Children (Scotland) Act 1995.
In May 2007 and again in August 2007 letters were sent to all local authorities requesting information on what they considered to be best practice within their authority. Contact was also made individually with some authorities. All 32 local authorities responded and provided information, not only with regard to practices under Section 30, but also in respect of their general practice with Looked After children, young people and care leavers. The general practice reported supports Looked After children, young people and care leavers to progress in respect of their education, training and employment. This report provides extracts of the responses received, including examples relating to corporate parent strategies, support to improve educational attainment in school, supported accommodation, protocols with external agencies and participation projects and groups.
The Concordat between the Scottish Government and local government which was published as part of the Scottish Budget Spending Review 2007 includes national outcomes which relate strongly to encouraging and supporting Looked After children and young people as well as care leavers.
Examples include:
- "Increase the proportion of school leavers (from Scottish publicly funded schools) in positive and sustained destinations ( FE, HE, employment or training)"
- "Our children have the best start in life and are ready to succeed"
- "We have improved life chances for children, young people and families at risk"
- "Our young people are successful learners, confident individuals, effective contributors and responsible citizens"
- "We are better educated, more skilled and more successful, renowned for our research and innovation"
Through sharing this information, and the practice demonstrated, it is hoped that councils will build on their own current practices with a view to meeting these agreed, shared outcomes.
The Concordat can be found at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2007/11/13092240/concordat
Annex 3 provides the contact details for Local Authority Lead Officers for after care should you wish to contact specific authorities for further information on their authorities' activity.
"I was lucky to have support from Throughcare right up until and past my 25 th birthday. They found me supported lodgings and helped me through my studies. When I was ready they gave me the support and advice that I needed when moving into my own tenancy. At 16 I would not have been ready to do this as many young people are forced to."
Anonymous
"Throughcare stepped in and found me supported lodgings where I was able to carry on my studies. They supported me financially and also supported anything I did. After completing my studies and starting a job they helped me find and set up my own flat, furnishing it and also helped with all the paperwork that this involved. I'm still able to pick up a phone for advice, even though I'm not under their care anymore. For young people who have been in the care system for long periods and may not have any other support, this is important. I know not all local authorities provide this kind of support perhaps other authorities could learn from Throughcare."
Christine