Purpose

There is growing momentum nationally across
Local Authorities to make care leavers a protected characteristic
to seek to redress inequalities faced by care experienced young
people. Cabinet will be asked to approve Care Leaver status as a
protected characteristic.

Content

The Cabinet has
considered a proposal for the Council to treat those individuals
with care experience as if it were a protected characteristic under
the Equality Act 2010 and has:-
 
(1) Given approval to
Care Leavers / Care Experience being treated by the council as a
Protected Characteristic.
 
(2) Noted that once
approved by Cabinet, officers will work with the Care Leavers Forum
to produce an action plan for the implementation of this change
which will be presented to Cabinet in Spring 2024.