Service for care leavers has improved, Ofsted says

Care leavers face typically higher rates of unemployment compared to their peers

Ofsted has highlighted improvements in the way vulnerable young adults leaving the care system in Bradford are supervised.

The watchdog said improved leadership and a smaller turnover of staff had resulted in better help for 18 to 25-year-olds who had been in care as children.

Support for care leavers falls within the scope of children's services, which was taken out of the control of Bradford Council in 2022 after the murder of toddler Star Hobson.

The Bradford Children and Families Trust, which was set up to run the department subsequently, welcomed Ofsted's findings.

The service is designed to help care leavers with the transition into adulthood, with many typically finding it difficult to access a settled home and employment.

In a letter summarising the findings, Ofsted said: "Care leavers spoken with during the visit reflected that they previously had numerous changes of workers, which meant that some care leavers lost faith in the service.

"Positively, care leavers told inspectors that more recent practice has improved, and they are now benefiting from increasingly stable relationships with their workers."

'Happy and settled'

The letter also said that personal advisers, who work with care leavers "spoke very positively about working in Bradford".

It added: "They reflected on the historical challenges and articulated how they now feel happy, settled and better supported with their work."

Responding to the report, trust chair Eileen Milner said: "On behalf of Bradford Children and Families Trust I'd like to take this opportunity to thank the dedicated staff who are working tirelessly and at pace to improve the lives of children and young people in Bradford.

"Together, we will continue to work collaboratively and with wider partners to improve care leavers' experiences and opportunities."

Last year Ofsted said the wider children's services department, which was first rated inadequate in 2018 when it under council stewardship, was improving.

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