Councillors have been told that care leavers ‘haven’t slipped through the cracks’ despite a drop in those in education, training or employment two years after leaving care.
In 2018-19, only 45.16% of all care leavers in Caerphilly County Borough were in education, training or employment two years after leaving care. This is a 15% drop on the previous year, when the figure was 60.78%.
However, the figures one year after leaving care showed little change. Just over half (51.35%) of care leavers were in education, training or employment after one year. It was 51.16% the year before.
The chairman of Caerphilly County Borough Council’s social services scrutiny committee, Cllr Lyndon Binding, asked officers whether anything could be done to turn the numbers around.
Gareth Jenkins, assistant director for Children’s Services, said: “We are talking about very small numbers.”
“It’s two or three individuals that has dropped by.
“Some of these will be carers themselves, some will be parents, or some may not be able to work due to their mental health.
“We have to include everyone in our figures, but they haven’t slipped through the cracks.
“We are in touch with 100% of care leavers up to the age of 24.”