‘He was left on his own’: the care-leaver lives lost to a system that abandons them at 18

One-fifth of deaths of those in care occur at 18, in what experts call a ‘care cliff’, as vital support is lost ‘Immense drop-off’ in support contributing to care leaver deaths in England, review says David* spent most of his childhood in and out of care after experiencing abuse and neglect, and spent his teenage years in a children’s home, where a nurse helped him keep track of his type 1 diabetes.

But as he approached 18, things changed: he was moved into supported accommodation on his own, and then, at 19 years old, his diabetes nurse stopped working with him because of his age.

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