Blackpool Council Annual Health Report 2019 Blackpool Council Annual Health Report PAGES | Page 42

42 CARE LEAVERS Blackpool has the highest number of “Looked after Children” (LAC) in the country. Children in care must leave local authority care by their 18th birthday. Local authorities must support care leavers until they are 21 years old (or 25 if they are in education or training) 29 . In the year ending March 2018, 44% of Blackpool’s care leavers aged 17–18 and 46% of care leavers aged 19–21 were in education, employment or training. Around a fifth of the 19–21 age group that were NEET, were so due to pregnancy or parenting and about two fifths due to illness or disability 30 . A major issue facing care leavers is the availability of secure housing and a lack of skills to be able to maintain tenancies. Historically 100% of care leavers who were accommodated in Blackpool Coastal Housing (BCH) properties without floating support failed to maintain their tenancies. There were incidences of young people leaving semi‐independent accommodation on their 18th birthday and presenting as homeless at Housing Options. The quality of available accommodation in the private rented sector was problematic resulting in numerous failed tenancies. The Positive Transitions Housing Model was developed in September 2017 following agreement by Corporate Leadership Team (CLT) for implementation in November 2017. The scheme provides accommodation in the social housing sector for young people who are 17 years of age and above and have low‐ medium support needs. The model is a step down from either semi-independent group living, flat with floating support or supported accommodation and foster care. This model was introduced to improve outcomes for young people by supporting them in to safe, secure, quality assured accommodation that has the potential to be a long term home. By the end of 2018, 18 young people had been through the Positive Transitions Housing Model and despite challenges encountered around antisocial behaviour, non-engagement and rent arrears (in some cases due to the introduction of universal credit), the scheme has been broadly successful and is certainly a move in the right direction for supporting some of Blackpool’s most vulnerable young people. 29. National Audit Office. 2016. Care leavers’ transition to adulthood 30. https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/children-looked-after-in-england-including-adoption-2017-to-2018