More carers needed to support young adults

Stark data has revealed the death rate among young care-leavers is four times higher than the general population, with isolation and loneliness underpinned as a main issue.

A report by the Department of Education, which was published in August of this year, has outlined the bleak reality care-leavers face when they turn 18, with the authors urging children’s services to provide more support.

placeholder image — Foster Care | fizkes - stock.adobe.com

Written by Ashley John-Baptiste and Clare Chamberlain, the findings highlight the importance of a review of the quality of support and accommodation provided to young care leavers in supported accommodation. This comes as the country faces a national decline in foster parents and supported lodging hosts despite a continued spike in children and young people in the care system.

As of March 2025, England had 33,435 foster homes, marking a 10 per cent drop since 2021. Despite the notable dip in carers, the number of children in care has jumped from 64,460 in 2010 to 81,770 in 2025 - the highest recorded numbers since the 1980s.

In response to the worrying fostering landscape, The Portsmouth News launched its ‘Fostering a Better Future’ campaign last month to support the recruitment drive of more foster parents and carers.

As part of the campaign, The News has heard from current foster carers who have shared real-life experiences of the system, people who grew up in foster care and businesses in the city that have signed a pledge to be foster friendly.

In the city there were approximately 232 foster households working alongside Foster Portsmouth in March 2025, with the number of supported lodgings unknown due to frequent fluctuations.

The latest report, entitled ‘You really are on your own’: A study of the early deaths of young people who were in care, applies to England, and shows that between January and December 2025, there were 112 notifications of death for care-leavers aged 18 to 24. The majority of these deaths involve 18-year-olds.

Given that in 2025 there were approximately 86,620 care leavers between 18 and 24, these shocking figures translate to an estimated death rate of approximately 130 per 100,000 care leavers - four times higher than the death rate of the general population.

Of the 112 deaths recorded, 36 per cent were attributed to suicide, with young women significantly overrepresented. The suicide rate among female care leavers was estimated to be up to 15 times higher than that of females in the general population.

Once young people in care turn 18, they begin the transition period into adulthood, with many choosing to live in supported lodgings, live independently or remain at their foster home under the Staying Put scheme.

The Supported Lodgings scheme, which also faces building pressures amid shortages in carers, involves hosts providing accommodation and a minimum of 10 hours a week of support for a young person between 16 and 24. The scheme often caters for young people who have been in foster care throughout their childhood and require additional assistance before living independently.

A Hampshire County Council spokesperson said: “Turning 18 should not mean having to face adult life alone. Through our Staying Put programme, many of our young people remain living with their former foster carers after their 18th birthday, giving them more time and stability before moving on.

“If Staying Put is not the right option, supported lodgings can offer a step towards greater independence while retaining the security and guidance of a supportive household.

As part of the ‘Staying Put’ scheme, children's Services will financially support 18-year-old care leavers to 'stay put' with their former foster carer under a supported lodgings arrangement. This is applicable regardless of being in education, training or work and it can last until you reach 21, or over if you are still in education or training.

The report added: “The overwhelming picture we found was of young people who are very much alone. They have lost the organic social connections which most children enjoy and so they rely on support from the state rather than family and friends.

“They then experience a significant drop in support upon reaching adulthood and receive hit and miss services from those working with them. The transition from childhood to adulthood does not happen neatly upon turning 18 years old. You are not one person at age 17 years and 11 months and a very different person a few weeks later.

“We ask directors of children’s services to look again at the quality of the support and accommodation being provided to young care leavers living in supported or semi-independent accommodation in your areas. Are the commissioning arrangements working well enough to provide sensitive, skilled, empathic support for 17- and 18-year-olds who still require considerable help to move into adulthood and may be living on their own for the first time?”

Jo Austin is part of The News' Fostering a Better Future campaign to promote foster care in Portsmouth.

Pictured: Jo Austin

Picture: Alex Shute — Jo Austin is part of The News' Fostering a Better Future campaign to promote foster care in Portsmouth. Pictured: Jo Austin Picture: Alex Shute | Alex Shute

Portsmouth-based foster carer, Jo Austin, is no stranger to taking in young people who need a caring and supportive home. After being told she would be unable to have any more biological children, the carer, who is now the fostering ambassador for the South East, embarked on the life-changing journey as a foster parent.

Over the past 14 years, she has cared for 25 children and young people, but due to a decline in her health, she decided to take a step back from full-time caring and is now a supported lodging host.

She said: "I am now a supported lodgings foster carer, for people aged 16 to two who may have care experience and who are ready to move on to independence but not fully independent and need support. But it means I can come out to work as well, which is good because I’ve got a really good job and I love my job. So that works really well for me.

"I have a health condition and last year I took a big dive and had a bad reaction to some medication and thought it was time to step back from full-time fostering which is why I moved across to supported lodgings."

To be an eligible foster carer or supported lodgings host, you must: