Ahead of the Scottish budget tomorrow, we are calling on the Scottish Government to protect funding for increasing the age young people can leave care.

 

It is expected that from April 2019, young people in care will be able to stay in their care placement up to the age of 21 – through the Continuing Care policy.

 

The Scottish Government expects the net cost of the policy to be £9.3 million in 2019-20 but has not ring-fenced the funding allocated. Given the financial pressures faced by local services, this vital funding could be spent in other areas.

 

This is something that was raised by our members through our ‘Implications of Continuing Care Focus Group’. In May we published a paper setting out the concerns of the Focus Group, with recommendations on how the implementation of the policy can be improved. You can read this report here.

 

Commenting ahead of the budget, Staf Chief Executive Norma Corlette said:

 

“We believe that in a compassionate country like Scotland the life chances of our young people should never be determined by their care experience.

 

“Raising the age at which young people can stay in their care placement to 21 is a big part of realising our shared national ambitions for care experienced young people.

 

“Our members have expressed concern that £9.3 million funding expected to be allocated to councils to deliver this policy won’t be ring-fenced.

 

“We have a clear message for the Finance Secretary: don’t leave out care leavers – protect the funding required to fully implement Continuing Care.”

📸 = Simon Q