North Yorkshire Council: More Protection for Care Experienced People

The council may soon protect care experienced people. This would give them similar rights as other groups, such as in cases of age, disability, and orientation. Council members vote on this plan tomorrow.

Officials say care experienced people face unfair treatment. A report highlights housing issues as one example, noting a letting agent rejected care leavers, along with criminals. The report calls this advert an outrage and states the case is not rare.

Care experienced people face stigma in many areas, including jobs, homes, and health access. The report notes a sad fact about care leavers: they often struggle in life. They are underrepresented in positive areas. Simultaneously, they are overrepresented in negative ones.

Education data from 2024 reveals an issue. Young care leavers are likelier to be in prison. They are less likely to be apprentices, and university attendance is also lower.

A 2018 study is also of note here. It found earlier death is likelier for care leavers. North Yorkshire strives toward better outcomes, but gaps persist between groups.

Adding this protection impacts council work. It changes planning, data handling, and public health. Social care and purchasing will also be affected.

The council would apply existing equal rights principles. They would update equality assessments, and some council policies would need changing as well. Care experience would then be considered.

Training helps the workforce understand care experience and address the discrimination care leavers face daily. Workers will learn to reduce these issues effectively.

Care leavers were consulted on this topic, and these young people said they would appreciate the change.