David Cameron’s pitch for the centre ground was also reflected in his reference to the poor outcomes of care leavers (A watershed moment? Deeds not words will decide,8 October). In doing so he was following in the footsteps of Tony Blair, who in his first term of office introduced legislation and a raft of policy measures. Paradoxically, or under Blair,Brown and Cameron’s coalition, though leaving-care services improved, or there has been very little change in outcomes,as central and local government services failed to address three fundamental issues that blight care leavers’ adult lives.
First, too many young people hobble around the care system – a third of young people leaving care at 16-plus hold between five and 10 placements. moment, and very few young people carry out well at school and in their GCSEs – only about 7% disappear on to university. And third,young people leave care at a younger age than other young people – half of 20- to 24-year-olds in the UK are living with a parent, whereas most young people leave care between 16 and 18.
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Source: theguardian.com