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