Make growing up in care ‘a protected characteristic’

GROWING up in care should be a “protected characteristic” in equality law like being gay or disabled, the Government’s care tsar has said.

Josh Macalister, a former schoolteacher who founded Frontline, the social work charity, was commissioned by the Government to lead an independent review of children’s social care.

He will publish his findings today and among more than 80 recommendations to overhaul the “dysfunctional” system is a call for children’s experience of being in care to become a “protected characteristic” under equalities legislation to “help reduce stigma and discrimination”.

This would make the UK the first country in the world to recognise “care-experienced people” in this way, the report said.

Under the Equality Act 2010, there are nine characteristics identified as “protected”, where evidence shows there is still significant discrimination in employment, provision of goods and services and access to services such as education and health. These are: age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation.

Regarding reducing the stigma of being in care, the Independent Review of Children’s Social Care said: “There is a case to go further. Therefore, the Government should make care experience a protected characteristic.

“There are some who worry that making care a protected characteristic might inadvertently increase the stigma care-experienced people face ... however, we believe the introduction is necessary and like other ‘hidden’ protected characteristics, care-experienced people would be able to choose whether to share their past care experience or not.

“Making care experience a protected characteristic would provide greater authority to employers, businesses, public services and policy makers to put in place policies and programmes that promote better outcomes for care-experienced people.

“It will make the UK the first country in the world to recognise care-experienced people in this way.”

The review, which was promised in the Conservatives’ 2019 election manifesto, is also calling for a “radical reset” to improve the lives of children in care and their families, as well as a windfall tax on profits made by the 15 largest private children’s home providers to fund the overhaul of the care system.

Writing on the Telegraph website today, Mr Macalister called on businesses “to play their part” to help careleavers who do not have a family support network, and stamp out nepotism when hiring by working with councils to offer mentoring, internships and training opportunities.

Responding to the review, the Government did not commit to most of the recommendations but said they would be considered in the longer term.