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Many young people today leave home later than any generation before them, and many move back home again more than once.Whether it is help with rent, saving up for deposits or emotional support when a job falls through, these are things parents and carers help their young people with well into their twenties and beyond.A care leaver, however, is often faced with having to manage multiple transitions simultaneously at age 18 and this can be a moment when they feel they are suddenly on their own. This step into adulthood can feel abrupt, lonely and tragically, as the findings of the recent independent review of early care leaver deaths set out, too many of those leaving care have seen their lives end far too soon.The review describes support stepping down at exactly the point it is most needed and this is not something children's services can address alone. Care leavers need to be prioritised by every department, agency and service that touches their lives, whether that is ongoing advice and support to manage a health condition or the ability to access year-round accommodation at university.The extension of the Staying Close support model to age 25, as well as the expansion of new corporate parenting responsibilities to health and education services under the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026 is welcome. It is no exaggeration to say that people's futures are dependent on the success of these reforms, which includes our continuous effort to ensure the transition into adulthood does not feel like a ‘cliff edge'.Care leaver deaths are a national tragedy and one that directors of children's services and our teams across the country feel deeply as corporate parents.Our imperative as a collective body of leaders must be to create the conditions for all care leavers to build a successful life – not responding when things go wrong.While these conditions are crucial in helping a young person succeed, the loss of relationships once children in care become adults was raised in the review.There is more that can be done to forge and maintain these vital relationships, such as planning a young person's move on from care at an early stage, with a deliberate focus on building trust and relationships. It is also key to make sure they are keeping contact with family and friends, where safe and appropriate, as well as with staff and peers who already know them, for example, via the Staying Put programme in fostering placements.The extension of the Staying Close support model to age 25, as well as the expansion of new corporate parenting responsibilities to health and education services under the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026 is welcome. It is no exaggeration to say that people's futures are dependent on the success of these reforms, which includes our continuous effort to ensure the transition into adulthood does not feel like a ‘cliff edge'.Enduring relationships into adulthood, which are protected and facilitated by a community of corporate parents, will be essential going forward.Finally, it is important the Government recognises its own role to genuinely drive this collaboration, so that care leavers are given every chance at living a long, happy and successful life.Ann Graham is president of the Association of Directors of Children's Services

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CARE LEAVERS

Care leavers need to avoid a support 'cliff edge'

By Ann Graham | 08 October 2026

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