News: ’16 Plus Support Team’

Brighton & Hove City Council leader Jason Kitcat on the ‘16 Plus Support Team’

In Brighton & Hove there are 158 young people aged 16-19 leaving council care this year. These children are among the most vulnerable in the city, often coming from difficult backgrounds and experiences. The feedback we get from those leaving care, foster carers and social workers is that care leavers need extra support to make sure they are able to succeed in life.

For young people reaching the end of their time in care, it can be very difficult to transition to living independently as an adult. They need more help and advice than others might to help them to find work or training.

So I’m delighted that we recently agreed a programme of careers advice and work placements especially for young people in care and leaving care. Among the proposals are that of the 70 placements and apprenticeships for young people we hope to make available every year for the next three years, a minimum of five in the council will be ringfenced for young people in care and leaving care.  

We will also continue the work we already do developing individual plans for each young person so that they can learn about options ahead of them and decide how they are going to get there. This is done through the dedicated ‘16 Plus Support Team’, which includes social workers, advisers, a nurse and specialists in employment, training and housing.

The city has a higher than average number of children in care per head of population, but this is falling because of more proactive work by the council and others to support families and safe environments for children.

However for the 444 under-18 year olds currently in care, it’s important that we offer these often vulnerable young people the valuable guidance and support that any parent would want to give to their child.