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<p>The government keeps the Staying Put policy under constant review, including through
monitoring data from local authorities on take-up by young people, engagement with
the sector, and reviewing information from Ofsted inspections of local authorities.
Staying Put was also considered as part of the independent fostering review undertaken
by Sir Martin Narey and Mark Owers, published in February 2018. Staying Put has helped
thousands of care leavers to transition more smoothly from care to independence, and
provides continuity of relationships and care arrangements. Latest data shows that
in the year ending March 2018, 55% of 18 year olds chose to Stay Put – an increase
of 4% on 2017.</p><p>The government does not believe that introducing a national minimum
allowance for Staying Put carers is the right way forward. Unlike children in foster
care, young people in Staying Put arrangements are adults and may be in work, or claiming
benefits. These can be used to contribute to the cost of providing the Staying Put
arrangement, in a similar way that young people who are still living at home with
their parents may contribute to the cost of running the household. The current arrangements
allow local authorities to consider all factors in relation to each local Staying
Put arrangement, and to negotiate the amount that the carer receives on a case-by-case
basis.</p>
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