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"Leaving Care"

Reporter Stephen Fairclough looks ahead to a milestone report from the Children's Commissioner on how young people are faring in the local authority care system, and the challenges they face when they leave it to live independently.

Last updated: 18 March 2011

Since the post of Children's Commissioner for Wales was created in the wake of the North Wales child abuse tribunal, a decade ago, there have been major improvements in the way local authorities care for looked-after children and young people.

But ten years on, Commissioner Keith Towler is preparing to raise concerns about the so-called "postcode lottery" of patchy and inconsistent services and support for young people when they leave care at 16, if no longer in education, or 18 if they remain in education.

"I think ten years on, we've seen some huge improvements...but we've still got an awfully long way to go," said Mr Towler, who took up the post of Children's Comissioner three years ago.

"Some of the key messages I'm getting are about the inconsistencies that children and young people are experiencing across Wales.

"You hear (them) asking very simple questions about how they could access an advocate, for example. All children ought to be able to access the services of an advocate."

Mr Towler also voices concern about what he describes as "ridiculously low" educational targets and aspirations for young people in care - for whom the minimum benchmark target is one GCSE qualification.

The programme also hears from young people themselves about their experiences of leaving the protective blanket of the local authority care system and going out into the world, sometimes as young as just 16.


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