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Improving Employment Outcomes for Care Leavers

Improving Employment Outcomes for Care Leavers. Chris Melvin – Chief Executive, Reed in Partnership Hanna Lewis – Communications Executive, Reed in Partnership. About Reed in Partnership . Prime Provider of the Work Programme in West London

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Improving Employment Outcomes for Care Leavers

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  1. Improving Employment Outcomes for Care Leavers Chris Melvin – Chief Executive, Reed in Partnership Hanna Lewis – Communications Executive, Reed in Partnership

  2. About Reed in Partnership • Prime Provider of the Work Programme in West London • 13 years experience of welfare-to-work, skills and business support • Global Operations with contracts in Australia and Poland and market development programmes in France and Germany • Our approach has helped over 115,000 customers move from benefits into work – 35,000 of these were under 25

  3. Children & Young People in Care There were 64,400 children and young people in care in England last year, a 6% rise from 2009 Why? • 61% - Abuse and / or neglect • 12% - Family dysfunction • 9% - Family in acute stress Who? • 76% White, 8% Mixed, 7% Black/Black British • 56% Male, 44% Female • 21% Over 16 years old

  4. Statistics of Achievement • Only 12% of children in care achieved 5 or more GCSEs including English and mathematics at grades A* to C compared to 53% of all children. • 33% of looked after children are NEET • In March 2010 the proportion of care leavers in employment, education or training ranges from 34% to 87% across local authorities Statistics from Department for Education (2010)

  5. Why are care leavers disadvantaged? • Numeracy and literacy skills • Employability skills • Homelessness • Drugs and Alcohol • Teenage Parenthood • Custody • Health • Knowledge of the benefits system • Lack of investment and aspiration • Wage Scars • Stigma/confidence

  6. What has been done? Legislation • The Children (Leaving Care) Act, 2000 • Children and Young Persons Act, 2008 Policy • Right2BCared4 • From Care2Work • Care Matters

  7. Moving Forward: General Approach • Partnership working • Utilise the expertise of the voluntary sector • Must complement existing LA provision • Earlier intervention • Increasing employability skills • More assessment and less prescription

  8. Key Challenges • Postcode Lottery • Benefits System • Need for joined-up government • Lack of work experience • Integrated and long term support • Professional employment and skills support

  9. Moving Forward: The Work Programme How could the Work Programme help? • Sustainable employment • Avoid significant initial spend from government • Professional Employment & Skills Advisers • Access to job vacancies • Flexible and personalised support

  10. Earlier Intervention Model

  11. Core Recommendations • The Work Programme to open up to looked after children aged 15+ • Professional and dedicated employment and skills support • Local authorities to increase the no. of positive role models available to young people • Improve access to work experience • Government to ensure looked after children are better off after welfare reforms

  12. Contact Details Hanna Lewis Communications Executive Tel: 0207 708 6063 Fax: 0207 708 6011 hanna.lewis@reed.co.uk or visit us at Stand Number 35 in the exhibition hall

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