- Review into deaths of young people leaving the care system to
be published later this year, helping inform further action to
protect care leavers and strengthen support
- Care Leaver Deaths Review to be led by care-experienced
broadcaster Ashley John-Baptiste and social worker Clare
Chamberlain.
- Comes ahead of wider work to ensure loving, enduring
relationships are at the heart of children's social care system.
Vulnerable young people leaving the care system will be better
supported following a review launched by the government today
into the deaths of care leavers.
This is in response to the horrifying fact that a
disproportionate number of young people who have been in care die
young, often in complex circumstances and without support from
social workers and others. The government is determined to change
this as part of wider efforts to improve the lives of young
people, breaking down barriers to opportunity and enabling them
to succeed.
Data published in May 2025 showed 91 notifications of care leaver
deaths in 2024–25, with the majority aged between 16 and 21. This
number is unacceptably high and a serious problem which impacts
wider society.
The review into some of these cases will be led by experienced
social worker Clare Chamberlain and care-experienced author and
broadcaster Ashley John-Baptiste.
Together, they bring a wealth of experience and expertise about
the huge challenges which young people face both in and out of
the care system.
The review will focus on young people's experiences, who and what
mattered to them, and identify what more could have been done to
support them.
It forms part of wider action to strengthen support for care
leavers, including through the landmark Children's Wellbeing and
Schools Bill to enable them to thrive in adult life..
The Bill will introduce new duties on local authorities to
provide “Staying Close” support up to age 25, helping care
leavers find places to live, get jobs and access vital services
including for health, education, training and
relationships advice.
The Bill will also introduce new corporate parenting
responsibilities for public sector bodies to ensure they take
support care leavers and take their needs into account when
designing policies and delivering services.
Minister for Children and Families, , said: “Far too
many young people who have been in care face massive challenges
in adult life. The fact that many have died far too early is
truly shocking and must change.
“This review will help us understand what is going wrong and,
crucially, what more we can do to protect and support young
people as they leave care. We owe it to every child in our care
system to ensure they have the network of loving relationships
they need to thrive.”
The independent experts will begin their work immediately, with
findings and recommendations to be shared later this year.
Lessons will be embedded into the government's forthcoming
Enduring Relationships Programme, which will put the need to
support enduring relationships for children in care at the heart
of government policy.
Ashley John-Baptiste said: “As someone who grew
up in care, it troubles me deeply that so many care experienced
people have died so early.
I can't overstate how important this work is. I hope our efforts
will provide the critical insights and learning needed - so that
we can do better for our precious care experienced young people.”
Clare Chamberlain said: “In undertaking this
work we hope to hear not just from professionals, but from family
and friends who were close to the young person, so that we can
get a good understanding of what mattered most in their lives and
what could have been different.”
The Department for Education has already taken steps to improve
understanding of care leaver mortality. Since December 2023,
local authorities have been expected to report the deaths of care
leavers through the Serious Incident Notification system.
The next annual data release is expected in Spring 2026, with
further work underway to improve the quality and consistency of
reporting.
Alongside these reviews, the government is strengthening mental
health support for children in care. A three-year pilot announced
in December 2025 will bring together social workers and NHS
professionals to provide earlier, more joined-up mental health
support to children and families.
