Supporting young adult care leavers into work

[Background] [Aims] [Outcomes] [Audience] [Programme] [Event Information] [Application Conditions]

Background

In the three years since the NIACE conference, 'Making the Transition: Learning to support young adults leaving care' attended by Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal, Patron of NIACE, new legislation has put in place initiatives to strengthen education and work opportunities for young adults leaving care.  This has included: 

• the opportunity for young adult care leavers who have had their case closed at 21 years of age to come back and request support from their local authority with education or training up until the age of 25
• under section 23C (5A) of the Children Act 1989 and the Children Act 1989 (Higher Education Bursary) (England) Regulations 2009 it is the duty of the local authority to pay £2,000 to a former relevant child who pursues a designated course of higher education in accordance with a pathway plan prepared for that person
• the right to be offered an Apprenticeship, as long as the young adult care leaver has the right qualifications and is under 25 years of age. This should be a legal entitlement by 2013
• the support of a social worker or personal adviser to create a 'pathway plan' that includes plans for learning and work
• a 16 - 19 bursary fund of at least £1,200 for care leavers in full time further education and pro rata for part time courses
• development of the 'fromCare2Work' quality mark (National Care Advisory Service)
• a quality mark for care leavers in Higher Education (Buttle Trust UK).

Despite all of the above, the statistics on young adult care leavers' achievements in education and levels of employment demonstrate that more changes are required because: 

• the number of care leavers aged 19, not in education, training or employment, has increased by 5% since 2009 and by 26% since 2006
• 33% of looked after children aged 19 are not in education, training or employment
• only 12% of children in care achieve five A*-C GCSEs, including maths and English, compared with 53% of all children.

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Aims

At this conference delegates will hear how the above initiatives have helped young adult care leavers make the transition from care into learning and work and consider what more needs to be done to improve the chances and opportunities for young adult care leavers.  

This conference will:

• raise awareness of the challenges faced by young adult care leavers moving into learning and/or employment
• provide the chance to hear about the experiences of young adult care leavers first hand
• provide examples of good practice in supporting young adult care leavers into learning and employment
• consider the effectiveness of various initiatives put in place to support young adults making the transition into learning and/or employment
• provide delegates with the opportunity to voice their opinions and ideas on what still needs to happen.

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Outcomes

This conference will:

• give policy makers the opportunity to meet with providers and consider progress so far to inform future developments in supporting young adult care leavers
• give providers and employers already supporting young adult care leavers an opportunity to exchange ideas and approaches, consider the impact of the latest developments and influence future developments
• give providers and employers not currently involved, an insight into approaches used to support  young adult care leavers to make the transition to education and/or work
• give stakeholders and individuals working with young adults an insight into the benefits of supporting young adult care leavers to achieve in education and at work.

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Audience

• National and regional policy and decision makers within government departments and agencies, local authorities and other stakeholders
• Managers and practitioners in FE colleges, independent training providers, ACL providers and voluntary and community sector learning providers
• Senior and operational managers from agencies and intermediaries involved in supporting young adult care leavers, including charities, social enterprises, IAG providers and health and social care services
• Employers and unions with an interest in supporting young adult care leavers in the workplace
• People with an interest in skills provision and/or support for young adults leaving care.

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Programme

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Event Information

• Arrival, registration and security checks is at 9:00am for a 10:00am start. There will be no admittance after 9:45am. The event will end at 3:55pm
• Event fee per person: £ 99
  Reduced fee for Voluntary Organisations and NIACE Members: £75
  Bursary fee:  £35 - for those who cannot afford to pay the full or reduced fee
  (includes sandwich lunch, tea/coffee)
• NB: NIACE does not charge VAT on conference or course fees
• Only online application forms with the payments section completed will be processed
• NB: If you wish us to invoice your employer we require a copy of the Purchase Order before the form is processed.
• Places will be allocated in order of receipt of completed online application forms (one online application form per person)
• Video cameras may be in use at this event. If you do not wish to be photographed or appear on the video outputs please indicate this on the application form and make yourself known at registration
• Participants should be prepared to take their own notes as there will not be handouts for all sessions
• If you have not received an e-mail confirming your attendance and joining instructions 4 working days before the event please contact: events@niace.org.uk

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Application Conditions

• Event date:  Thursday 9 February 2012
• Closing date: Thursday 19 January 2012
• Cancellations are non-refundable.
• The full fee is payable prior to the event
• Substitutions are to be advised 5 working days prior to the event
• A 15 working days notice period is required for provision of electronic note-takers, sign language interpreters and transcription to Braille
• Places are to be reserved online - scroll up and click on Apply Now
• Reservations by telephone cannot be accepted
• Application forms are individually acknowledged by e-mail. Joining instructions, including map and directions, will be e-mailed out one week before the event.
• NIACE reserves the right to reject applicants who are not from the target audience list.

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