Background to the Research

• Looked after children and care leavers are some of the most disadvantaged members of our society. In addition to the trauma and instability that many have experienced, they are highly vulnerable to being socially excluded, living in poverty or becoming homeless.
• This briefing presents the results from the second annual OC1 study. This study was undertaken as part of the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety's commitment to promoting educational outcomes for care leavers and looked after children throughout NI. This is underpinned by the NI Executive's Programme for Government (2002-2005)
  

Research Approach

• Eleven HSST's completed a questionnaire which focused upon the educational and economic activities and achievements of 100 girls and 106 boys aged between 16-18 years, who ceased to be cared for by their HSST during the year ending March 2003.
• The sample excluded young people who were only placed in short term respite care.
• Some of the information provided by nine of the Trusts was incomplete. However, it was noted that there was a huge improvement on the timeliness and completeness of information returned from the previous year.
  

Main Findings

Profile of Sample

• Although there was not a significant difference within the sample, almost half of the young people lived within the Eastern Board area.
• Forty seven percent of the sample was Catholic and 38% was Protestant.
• Ninety seven percent of care leavers were white and 3% were of mixed ethnic origin.
• Fifteen percent of the young people had disabilities, two thirds of which were learning disabilities and one fifth had mental health difficulties.
• Thirteen percent had received a statement of Special Educational Needs. Care leavers are 4 times more likely to have been statemented than children within the general population.
• Prior to leaving care, 15% of young people had been in residential care, 36% had been in foster care, 21% were placed with family and 28% were placed in a variety of other setting such as hostels, and other types of independent living accommodation.

Most recent period in care

• Twenty seven percent of young people had spent over 10 years in care, whilst almost a quarter had spent between 5 and 10 years in care. Thirty one percent had been looked after between 1 and 5 years and 17% had been in care for less than a year.
• Whilst the average length of the most recent placement was shorter for boys and girls who left care in 2002/03 compared to those who left in 2001/02, boys still spent longer, on average, in care, than girls.
• The vast majority of young people left care once they reached the age of majority. Most of the remainder returned home or went to live in supported accommodation. However, 10 people under 18 left care and moved into unsupported housing.

Educational Attainment

• Overall, the standard of qualifications obtained by care leavers compared with the general population was very low.
• There was no improvement on the results obtained during the previous year.
• Only 11% of young people left care with 5 A-C grade GCSE's, compared with 59% of school leavers.
• Whilst 5% of NI school leavers have no qualifications, this was the case for 51% of care leavers.
• Six percent had obtained one GNVQ.
• Girls were more successful than boys with 12% obtaining at least 5 GCSE's grades A-C compared with 10% of boys, and 48% achieving other qualifications compared with 28% of boys. Sixty one percent of boys left care without any qualifications. This was also the case for 40% of girls.
• Having a recent foster care placement was linked to successful academic outcomes and this was also noted amongst those who were employed.
• Length of time in care appears to have an impact upon outcomes, but this may be due to the different placement types experienced.
• Outcomes also varied amongst the HSSTs, with care leavers from the Eastern Board area faring the worst with 3/5 of young people leaving without any qualifications.
• Seventy eight young people, who were eligible, did not sit any exams.

Economic Activity

• There was an increase in the level of incomplete information (46) being returned in relation to the economic activity of young people.
• Of the remaining 160, 1/3 was in education or training and 1/5 was employed. This produced a total of 57% compared to the NI average of 91%.
• However, one third of young people were unemployed and 21 were either sick or acting as carers.
• Overall, 43% of young carer leavers were not in education, training or employment, compared with 9% of 16-18 year olds in NI.
• Young care leavers are 6 times more likely to be unemployed than the rest of the NI population (based upon 2001/2002 statistics).
• Catholic care leavers were more likely to be unemployed or inactive, despite having comparable levels of qualifications.
• Girls were more likely to be in education or had become economically inactive due to parenting responsibilities.
• Over half of the care leavers within the Western Board Area were either unemployed or economically inactive, despite having obtained similar or higher levels of qualifications than their counterparts in other areas.

Conclusions

• The authors urge caution when making comparisons between care leavers and young people within the general population as they are characteristically very different cohorts.
• The sample size for care leavers is also small and significant issues which have emerged during the research may be reflecting random variations within the population.