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Session for Employers Developed by From Care2Work

Raising Awareness to Improve Opportunities

for Care Leavers

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Explaining the terms :

• A ‘Care Leaver’ is a young person who has been looked after, or cared for, by the local authority.

• Employability is not just about employment, it is about reaching a point where you are capable of getting and keeping work.

• In making this journey a person gains knowledge and skills they can present to an employer and develops a positive attitude towards work.

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Why are we asking you to help Care Leavers in their journey ?

• Many young people who leave care end up in low–skilled, low paid work or become dependent on benefits.

• For the year 2007/08 : Nº of care leavers at age 19yrs who were not in education, employment or training (NEET) = 29%

- compared with the general population = 10%

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Why Help Care Leavers..

• Links into the Corporate Parenting agenda – both as an authority and as a wider community..

• Fits with Corporate Social Responsibility for Employers – ie, demonstrates your commitment to the community both on a social and economical level

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Living with a Negative Image

• There are many negative stereotypes that care leavers have to live with.

• Parents tell their children about the ‘naughty children’s home’..

• The newspapers and other media often only report where things have gone wrong and sensationalise this..

• The Care System itself is portrayed as negative and only used “when all else has failed”

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Different from the other

young people in your community ? • Lived in different places / different families..

• Never feeling settled..

• Did not receive the same level of parental or family support..

• Unable to focus on the opportunities that were offered because of what they were dealing with at the time..

• Lower confidence or expectations of themselves.

• May be older due to missing opportunities, or were not ready at the time..

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Moving from home

In 2008 the average age at which people moved from home to independence was 24yrs –

Many of those who were younger had the chance to return home if things didn’t work out..

• Most Care leavers have moved to independent living by the time they reach 18yrs :

For the year 2007/08 - 8,300 young people left care :

• 24% of those were only 16yrs old when they left their care placement..

• Only 6% were still with foster carers 9 months after their 18th birthday..

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Additional Responsibilities..

Young People in care at age 16 are not onlythinking about education, work or

relationships –

They also worry about :

• Being prepared and ready to make the move to independent living..

• Having the budgeting skills to manage on a low income..

• Being ready for the responsibility of managing a tenancy and paying the bills etc..

• Having the support mechanisms in place to help make the adjustment to living alone..

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What Can Employers offer..

Any of the following :

• Open days / visits to the workplace• Skills building courses or workshops• Work experience or Taster sessions• Work placements• Traineeships / Apprenticeships• Employment

These all provide experiences that are valuable to a young person..

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What do you get in return..

• Staff development eg, mentoring experience / supervisory skills

• Builds confidence in you as an employer• Keeps / ensures staff practice is up to date • Nurturing talent and seeing people thrive as a

result• A possible recruitment opportunity• A positive experience for the team

☺ Some satisfaction from seeing a young person grow and develop both in their skills and confidence and as an individual..

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What support is available..

• Named PA / other professional involved • Written placement agreement in place• Visits to offer support to you and the

young person• Progress meetings held & recorded• Support with addressing any issues

raised

Resources also available on website to help support placements..

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Confidentiality

Advice and guidance should be offered to put an Agreement in place :

• Agree what is appropriate information to share;

• Who information can or should be shared with;

• When confidentiality may need to be broken and how this will be handled.

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Quality Mark

Awarded to good quality placements

Based on 5 Criteria :

1. Commitment and Opportunities2. Recruitment3. Induction4. Support and Training5. Monitoring and Evaluation

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What care leavers bring..

• Keen to learn• May bring new ideas• Want to complete their journey• Want a better future• Loyal to the area, ie, don’t want

to move away..

► Want you to recognise the differences - but don’t want treating differently..

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What do young people gain..

• Transferable Knowledge and Skills• Experience of a work place• Confidence and Self esteem• Attitude to work• Initiative and problem solving

skills• Find out what they are good at, or

don’t like so much

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Making a difference..

A few examples of where opportunities have been offered to care leavers include :

•Liverpool council appointed 7 young people onto their apprenticeship programme

•In Blackpool the local authority guaranteed a work placement to all Looked After Children in Yr11

•North East Lincs – a young person was recruited to a full time position within the Town Hall

•Durham set up a work taster programme where young people experience the world of work and develop their skills and confidence.

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What Next..

Please make sure we have your contact details.Think about what opportunities you can offer.We will think about which young person will be suit that opportunity..Introductions can then be made..

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And finally..

•Remember..

Your support can help a young person to overcome the barriers and complete their journey of moving from Care into the world of work..