Higher death rate for young care leavers branded ‘national tragedy’
Young adults who left care had a death rate around four times higher than the general population – having often been left alone “with no safety net and with catastrophic consequences”, a report has found.
On turning 18 years old, people leaving care in England often lose “significant levers of support”, the Government-commissioned report concluded as it warned the so-called “care cliff” must be addressed.
There were 112 deaths notified of care leavers aged 18 to 24 in 2025, which the review said equated to an estimated death rate of approximately 130 deaths per 100,000 care leavers.
This rate is “about three to four times higher than the death rate in the general population”, it said.
Twenty-two of the deaths took place at age 18 – more than any other age in the range – which the report said was “strongly suggestive of the stark challenges and pressures” faced by these young people when they leave care.
Just over a third (40) of the care leavers were thought to have died by suicide – a rate the report said was potentially five times higher than that of the general population.
Broadcaster Ashley John-Baptiste, who authored a book on his childhood in care, co-led the review alongside experienced social worker Clare Chamberlain.
He branded it a “national tragedy that so many care-experienced young people are dying so early in life”, describing the stories he heard as “heart-breaking”, adding: “These young lives ended far too soon.”
He said he was “struck” by how “poor” some staff – known as leaving care personal advisers (PAs) – were in remembering basic details on the background of the care leaver.
The report acknowledged that while some PAs it spoke to were “caring and committed”, often it appeared they “hardly knew the young person and given that the minimum visiting requirements are once every two months, it is not surprising”.
Mr John-Baptiste branded the care cliff a “stain on the care system”, with some young people losing their social worker, foster parent or children’s nurse as soon as they turned 18.
The report said those who died were young people “at the height of vulnerability who were isolated and often very lonely”.
It added: “On reaching 18, they faced a dramatic drop in support and received inconsistent and, at times, inadequate help from both children’s and adults’ services. They were alone, with no safety net and with catastrophic consequences.”
While the authors noted this was not the case for all young people leaving care, they called for a “more tailored level of support for those who need it most”.
A crucial factor is a young person having “at least one adult who they can trust and who will support and guide them through the transition into adulthood” present in their life.
Ms Chamberlain said: “This review has reinforced what care leavers have told us for years: the state is no substitute for family. We need to do more to prevent the acute loneliness that the most vulnerable experience after leaving care”
The Government has announced funding of £25 million for its Staying Close programme this year, which aims to help young people up to the age of 25 stay in settled accommodation rather than being moved on alone at 18 and provides a named adult who stays in touch and offers support when needed with things such as accessing healthcare, education and employment.
While the programme currently operates in 47 local areas across England, the Government aims to expand it nationwide by 2029.
New duties are also coming into force from September 30 requiring local authorities to publish how they will support care leavers into independent living, and from then a young person who has left care can no longer be found intentionally homeless.
Children’s minister Josh MacAlister said: “Care must build and not break the relationships that young people need, and this must be the new north star.
“I am incredibly grateful to Ashley and Clare for their work on this review. The tragic stories they have captured must galvanise us to make sure that no one leaving care is left isolated and alone. This will be a whole society effort, so I urge everyone to play their part.”
Anela Anwar, chief executive of Become – the national charity for children in care and young people leaving care, welcomed the Government’s focus on the issue.
She said: “When leaving care can lead to the loss of a young person’s life, it’s beyond tragic. It shows why we urgently need to end the care cliff and fix the care system that is failing young people.”