| answer text |
<p>The Children and Families Act (2014) introduced a new duty on local authorities
in England to advise, assist and support fostered young people to stay with their
foster families when they reach 18, if both parties agree. This allow the young person
to transition to adulthood when they wish and from the security and stability of an
established family base. As with other young people, some care leavers will choose
to live independently at age 18; others will choose to live in a staying put arrangement
for a short period whilst they complete their education; some will want and need ongoing
support within a staying put arrangement until they reach their 21<sup>st</sup> birthday.</p><p>Information
on the number of children in Gloucestershire who ceased to be looked after in a foster
placement on their 18th birthday who were eligible for care leaver support and were
still living with their former foster carer (“staying put”) at age 18 or age 19 to
20 are shown in the attached tables.</p><p>In the table, figures on the number of
18 year old care leavers are presented in a separate tab to figures on 19 and 20 year
olds. They were only collected for the first time on an individual level basis in
2016 and are still classed as experimental statistics.</p><p>Information on the number
of times a child looked after is not granted continuity of care is not held centrally.</p>
|
|
