Manchester council to prioritise care-experienced young people when making decisions

Manchester City Council has unanimously agreed to put young people who are either in care or care-experienced at the forefront of policies.

The councils decision was influenced by an independent national review of children’s social care that recommended making care experience an additional factor in government decisions.

Manchester is the first local authority in Greater Manchester to consider the reviews recommendation and is ahead of any national policy.

The government is yet to respond to the national document which was sent directly to them.

Despite the decision not being accepted by all councillors in Manchester, those who did agree want to ensure the two groups are considered from the start when new policies are thought.

Over the last few years, Manchester has taken important steps to support it’s cared for children and care experienced young people better. This includes measures designed to help young people move out of a care home and into accommodation of their own.

Currently, all care-leavers in Manchester are exempt from paying council tax until the age of 25 and are considered band 1 priority on the council’s register after this.

The city council also assists young people with care experience to look for employment.

Young care leavers are already guaranteed first access to apprenticeships within the local authority, but councillors want to expand this into senior roles with guaranteed interview schemes, mentoring and support.

Cllr Gary Bridges, Executive Member for Early Years, Children and Young People said: ‘Young people in our care or who have left our care have the right to except everything from a corporate parent that would be expected from any other responsible and good parent.

‘We’re already very clear that our involvement with young people doesn’t just end when on paper they become adults at 18 and we’ve had a solid package of measures in place for some time.

‘What we will now be doing however is taking a step further, by extending our support to ensure that people of all ages who have had care experience in the past don’t find themselves discriminated against as a result of decisions and policies made by the council.’

Photo by William McCue