Publication of Northern Ireland Care Leavers 2018/19

Date published: 14 January 2020

Care Leavers Aged 16–18

• Just under two thirds (63%) of care leavers aged 16-18 had GCSEs or other qualifications. The proportion of care leavers who had 5 GCSEs (A*-C) or higher at the time of leaving care was 20%.

• Care leavers continue to have a higher proportion of young people with disability (12%) than the general population (6%). In terms of education, higher proportions of care leavers had a Statement of Educational Need (21%) compared with the general school population (5%).

• Of care leavers aged 16-18 for whom information was available, 71% were in education, training or employment and 29% were unemployed or economically inactive.

Care Leavers Aged 19

• Some 94% of care leavers aged 19 were in contact with Health and Social Care Trusts; with 65% in contact at least once a month.

• Of the care leavers for whom information was available, 63% were in education, training or employment; a lower proportion than in 2017/18 (65%) however similar to that of 19 year old care leavers in England (62%).
• In terms of becoming a parent, 13% of all care leavers aged 19 were parents, with 21% of female care leavers aged 19 becoming mothers on or before their 19^th birthday.