A new government-commissioned report has found that young adult care-leavers have a death rate about four times higher than the general population. The report noted the potentially catastrophic consequences for those often left alone "with no safety net".
The report concluded that people leaving care in England at 18 often lose "significant levers of support", warning that the "care cliff" must be addressed. Hayden, a 17-year-old care leaver, described struggling to navigate the system and seek help, stating, "We are not the undeserving poor of the Victorian era."
Hayden, who will turn 18 next month, is currently living in a semi-independent placement in Oldham while studying for his A-levels. He expressed a desire to see changes to the care system, including removing the profit motive from children's homes and bringing them back under local authority control.
The government has previously stated it is driving forward a national rollout of connected housing options for those leaving care, beginning with £25m this year. This initiative aims to "significantly increase" young people's chances of being offered a "home that provides them with community and connection rather than leaving them isolated in inappropriate accommodation".