Review into premature deaths of care leavers launched

A review into the disproportionately higher number of care leavers who die young is being launched by the Westminster government.

The Care Leaver Deaths Review will be led by social worker Clare Chamberlain and broadcast journalist and care leaver Ashley John-Baptiste.

Data published last May shows there were 91 deaths of care leavers between 2024 and 2025, the majority of whom were aged between 16 and 21.

Separate research by the Nuffield Trust has found that care experienced people are seven times more likely to die before the age of 25.

Minister for Children and Families Josh MacAlister 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.”

The review will look at the experiences of young care leavers to help identify how better to support them.

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 hope our efforts will provide the critical insights and learning needed - so that we can do better for our precious care experienced young people.” 

Chamberlain, who is director of the Centre for Systemic Social Work, 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 government said strengthening support for care leavers is being introduced in the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill currently going through parliament.

This includes ‘Staying Close’ support to help care leavers with housing, employment, health and relationship advice up to the age of 25. Corporate parenting responsibilities are also being extended to other public bodies.

Since 2023, local authorities have been expected to report deaths of care leavers through the Serious Incident Notification system. The next annual release is due shortly.

According to researdch by children's charity Coram care leavers score lower in life satisfaction, happiness and sense of purpose than their peers in the general population. One in five felt lonely often or always compared to one in 12 of peers.

Reaction

Campaigner Terry Galloway believes more needs to be done to support care leavers like himself and his siblings who faced huge struggles.

"This is not policy for me, it is personal. My brother died after trauma and addiction took hold and his cancer went untreated. My sister told me she did not want to die, and months later she was killed. These are not statistics, they are my family.

"Care experienced people are around 70 per cent more likely to die prematurely and live 20 years less on average. But the truth is, we do not even fully see the scale of this. Care leavers are dying, and they are not consistently recorded across government."

The government's Community Life Survey has for the first time ask people if they are care experienced, with the latest results due to be published later this year.

Galloway added: "The survey has found that seven per cent of the general population report isolation. When the latest results come in, I believe for care leavers it will be far higher, maybe as high as 60 per cent. 

"If we have that data, we can create a mitigation to reduce that . We will have a mechanism to act. Right now, care leavers are unseen in the system, and if you are unseen, you are not protected.

"We need to start seeing people, measuring the reality, and acting on what we already know.” 

BASW's interim chief executive Samantha Baron called for more resources to support care leavers. She said: "Social workers work with care leavers day-in, day-out and while many are supported to live fulfilling lives, we know that too many are dying far too young for myriad reasons. 

"We also know that support, funding and resources often tail off once a child becomes 16, while what is available is often variable and often too ‘adult’ centric.

"BASW has called for the age limit of full statutory support to be increased to 21 and to recognise 16-year-old care leavers as older children rather than young adults.

"Crucially, there needs to be adequate funding and resources from government to make a lasting impact in the lives of care leavers.”