Care leavers programme update – March 2026

In January, we took part in a discussion hosted by the Department for Education to review draft national guidance for Staying Close.

This was an important opportunity to highlight the value of Shared Lives as a stable, relationship-based option for young people with ongoing support needs.

The Government has also announced a new package to tackle health inequalities for care-experienced people, including extended access to NHS services.

Find out more about the Government announcement: Government extends free NHS services for care leavers.

We were pleased to join Essex Shared Lives in January to welcome Chris Badger, Chief Inspector for Adult Social Care at the Care Quality Commission.

The visit brought together council officers, scheme workers, Shared Lives carers and young people supported by Shared Lives. It was a chance to show, first-hand, how Shared Lives supports young people leaving care to build confidence, independence and lasting relationships.

Discussions focused on:

• improving joint working between children’s and adults’ services
• streamlining processes
• strengthening how we capture and evidence impact

Chris spoke openly about the challenges facing inspection and regulation, while confirming that Shared Lives – and better joined-up working – is a priority.

Read more about the visit: Essex Shared Lives scheme host CQC Chief Inspector of Adult Social Care.

Our ambassadors, alongside programme team members Rachel and Mary, attended the Principal Social Worker event, bringing together leaders from all 154 local authorities in England (see main picture at the top of the page).

The session focused on interdependence, belonging and love. Ambassadors Gracie, Katie and Vicky shared a powerful challenge:

“If you weren’t ready to leave home at 18 with no one to support you, why do you think we are?”

They encouraged social work leaders to reflect on the ‘cliff edge’ many young people face and to consider how Shared Lives can be developed locally as part of a more supportive transition into adulthood.

We also met with Josh MacAlister to discuss the future of Shared Lives for care leavers.

Our Chief Executive Ewan King and programme lead Rachel Leslie explored how Shared Lives can become a mainstream option.

Josh spoke warmly about Shared Lives as an example of social care at its best – grounded in loving, stable relationships. He shared his ambition to grow Shared Lives through Staying Close reforms and wider plans to renew foster care.

We marked Care Day 2026 by celebrating the voices and experiences of young people with care experience across Shared Lives.

This year’s theme, Voices that care, was brought to life by our ambassadors, Shared Lives carers and colleagues across the programme.

Gracie, one of our ambassadors, shared what Shared Lives means to her:

“I no longer dwell on my past, but I look forward to the future because they are a part of it – my found family within Shared Lives. I feel safe, secure and valued… The trusted relationships are what I value most.”

Read more from Care Day 2026: Celebrating young care experienced people – Care Day 2026.

We’re continuing to expand our network, with Cumberland, Wiltshire and Hartlepool recently joining the programme.

We’re also beginning an innovation project funded by the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation.

Known as the Shared Futures Project, this work will test how Shared Lives can support care leavers who fall outside traditional social care eligibility. Early conversations are already underway across five pilot areas, with more to share soon.

• We’re moving into the next stage of our training programme, with filming taking place at the end of March
• Our ambassadors will be speaking at Frontline Talks on 27th March, exploring whether Shared Lives can help address the ‘cliff edge’ for young people leaving care

Find out more about the care leavers programme: Shared Lives for care leavers, transitions and young adults.