Blackpool care leavers offered vital support

Help from the council’s Children’s Services includes providing suitable housing for care leavers as they embark on their adult lives, as well as advice in finding work and training.

Figures presented to a meeting of the children and young people’s scrutiny committee show Blackpool performs well in providing continuing support up until a young person’s 25th birthday.

New statutory duties came into force in April 2018 which mean councils must provide personal adviser support to all care leavers up to age 25, if they want it.

Sara McCartan, head of adolescent services at Blackpool Council, told councillors: “The vast majority of young people remain open to the service on their 18th birthday, with support until at least their 21st birthday and can continue until their 25th birthday.”

Figures show the number of people receiving personal adviser support is currently 110 aged 15-to-17, 160 aged 18-to-20, and 102 aged 21-to-25.

More than half (53 per cent) are in education, employment or training (compared to 56 per cent nationally); the council is in touch with 95 per cent of its care leavers up to age 25 (compared to 90 per cent nationally, and 93 per cent live in suitable housing (compared to 91 per cent nationally).

Blackpool’s Awaken team, which tackles the threat of child exploitation, also continues to offer support to care leavers.

A report to the committee says: “The risk does not reduce when they turn 18, in fact the risk of harm often increases dramatically as support services such as those offered by Children’s Services pull away. ”

It adds the Awaken team “will ensure that the young person is supported to

transition into adulthood as safely as possible with continuity of support from a known professional with whom they have developed a trusted relationship.”

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