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<p>Every child growing up in care should have a stable, secure environment where they
feel supported. That’s why the department has introduced mandatory national standards
and Ofsted registration and inspection requirements for previously ‘unregulated’ independent
and semi-independent accommodation for sixteen and seventeen year-old looked after
children and care leavers.</p><p>The introduction of national standards and Ofsted
registration requirements is vital to ensure that sixteen and seventeen year-olds
in and leaving care have access to high quality accommodation and support, and action
can be taken where provision is not good enough. The department has published guidance
for the sector on the new requirements, which is available here: <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1187743/Guide_to_the_supported_accommodation_regulations_including_quality_standards.pdf"
target="_blank">https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1187743/Guide_to_the_supported_accommodation_regulations_including_quality_standards.pdf</a>.</p><p>Within
the current spending review period, the department is providing £99.8 million of funding
to local authorities to increase the number of care leavers that stay living with
their foster families in a family home up to the age of 21 through the ‘Staying Put’
programme. Going beyond this, the department is also providing an additional £53 million
to increase the number of young people leaving residential care who receive practical
help with move-on accommodation, including ongoing support from a keyworker, through
the ‘Staying Close’ programme. A further £3.2 million is being given to local authorities
this year to provide extra support to care leavers at highest risk of rough sleeping.</p><p>The
department is committed to actions set out in Stable Homes, Built on Love to ensure
an increase in the number of care leavers in safe, suitable accommodation and a reduction
in care leaver homelessness by 2027.</p>
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