Agenda item

This report considers how looked after young people and care leavers are supported in to employment, education and training.

The Committee next considered the report on unemployment and how looked after young people and care leavers were supported into employment, education and training. Additionally, Officers noted 59% of care leavers did not reside within the borough, which created difficulties when most of the resources available were within the borough. 

Following discussion, the Committee:

·         Praised the comprehensive report.

·         Queried how the authority worked with unaccompanied minors when language was a barrier. Where necessary, Officers attempt to place unaccompanied minors in English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) classes. However, it was noted there had been difficulty with referring certain minors to ESOL classes as admission was only available at certain times throughout the year. The Council had explored working with partners to address this and had worked with UK Unsigned which was able to source additional money to have ESOL classes at their organisation throughout the year. The Young Men's Christian Association had also been able to hold a number of ESOL classes on site. Additionally, Officers informed the Committee that unaccompanied minors were placed within the borough where possible. The authority deliberately placed unaccompanied minors as close as possible to the Council as it recognised the difficulty they faced in arriving in a new country and therefore worked quickly to ensure they settled in. 

·         Queried what additional support was provided to unaccompanied minors in the Council’s care. Officers informed the Committee that unaccompanied minors were allocated a social worker upon arrival. The authority had a dedicated, well-trained team working with unaccompanied minors. Initially, age assessments may be required and Officers recognised this could be a stressful process for the minors, particularly if they were subsequently found not to be minors. The team ran various workshops to help integrate unaccompanied minors (who might not have previously received formal education on, for example - sexual health). Officers noted there was a financial and resource pressure of looking after unaccompanied minors with no additional funding having been provided. Officers informed there was a national transfer scheme to place unaccompanied minors within other authorities that had greater capacity available. However, Officers acknowledged the scheme had not been operating as it should be and, as of yet, no child had been transferred under that scheme. 

·         Noted the number of care leavers was 520, in comparison to 414 a year prior, which Officers confirmed put an additional strain on the resources of the services.

·         Noted it was not entirely clear to young people the options available to them with regard to funding up until the age of 25. Officers confirmed they had contacted all care leavers to inform them of the Council’s obligation to support them up until the age of 25. This had also been discussed in one of the authority’s newsletter. As the young person transitioned, their social worker remind them of the Council’s continued responsibility for them until they reached the age of 25. Officers assured the Committee that social workers routinely engaged with young people regarding their aspirations and the options available to them in their one to ones, as well as informing them of the support that could be provided by the Council.

(Action: Clerk to re-circulate relevant report – Officers to provide an update on this at a later meeting.)