Vulnerable children should be allowed to stay in care until they are 25-years-old according to the children’s commissioner for England following a survey.
The survey conducted by the University of Nottingham on nearly 3,000 children showed that more than half did not understand why there were no longer living with their parents.
With an average of 69,000 children in care in the UK, the children’s commissioner for England, Anne Longfield said it was “unacceptable” that around 35,000 youngsters were confused about why there were in care.
Ms Longfield is now calling for vulnerable children to be allowed to stay in care until they are 25.
According to the Who Cares Trust around 10,000 young people aged 16-18 leave care each year.
Ms Longfield whose job it is to protect the interests of children in England said: “This group of young people are probably the most vulnerable, often having suffered from extreme neglect, often abuse and often trauma.
“They are no longer living with their parents and have often not had stable placements.
They are the least likely to find employment and most at risk of drugs, alcohol and crime.
Anne Longfield, children’s commissioner for England.
She said: “When a child reaches 18, a parent would not wave goodbye to them for good and close the door to them, so we shouldn’t do so for children in care who, more than any of us, need a positive springboard for the future.”
The University of Nottingham’s survey revealed that nearly two in five children in care had been moved around three times in the last two years, whilst one in 10 had been moved at least four times.
A Department for Education spokeswoman said: “We are committed to improving the lives of care leavers. That is why we have introduced a comprehensive series of reforms since 2010 to help and support them.
“We welcome the survey’s findings that the vast majority feel they live in the right place, are treated with respect and feel part of the family.”
