Extra protections on the way for city kids leaving care

Councillors are this week expected to rubberstamp new measures designed to give youngsters a helping hand in life. Phil Corrigan takes an in-depth look

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PEOPLE who have been in care as children will receive extra protection from their council. Stoke-on-Trent City Council is set to make care experience a 'locally protected characteristic, requiring it to do more to ensure care leavers' needs are met and that they are not discriminated against.

Research shows care leavers are less likely to leave school with good qualifications and more likely to be unemployed and experience issues such as anxiety or depression as adults. A new policy means the city council will have to consider the impact on care-experienced people when it sets policy and changes services.