Southwark Council is set to enhance job opportunities for care leavers through a newly designed employability pathway. The initiative, co-designed with care-experienced young people, aims to provide access to council work experience, internships, apprenticeships, and entry-level roles.
The Care Leavers Employability Pathway was discussed at the Corporate Parenting Committee meeting on Wednesday 22 October 2025. The Local Economy Team has secured an additional £383,000 for 2025-26 to support the programme, complementing the Youth Guarantee Trailblazer initiative. Officers are expecting a similar level of funding for 2026-27, and there is a reasonable expectation of further funding for 2027-28, and 2028-29, although this has not been formally confirmed.
The Care Leaver Employability Support Steering Group, comprising representatives from Children's Services, Local Economy, and HR/OD, will oversee the programme. The Employability Pathway was presented at Southwark Council's Leadership Network, where leaders committed to participation and contributed over 60 employability opportunities.
Cross-council volunteers will play a vital role in the programme, offering further employment opportunities, becoming Corporate Parenting Champions, and driving a culture change approach that increases system-wide awareness, knowledge, skills, and ability needed to support care leavers' journey into sustainable employment.
A pilot employability pathway was delivered in August, with nine young people participating in activities such as employability skills workshops, mock interviews, a sector insight day, and two weeks of work experience in the council's Leisure service. In September, three young people gained work experience in various council teams, while another three secured places on the Civil Service Internship Programme.
Priorities for the remainder of the 2025/26 financial year include:
- Tracking and monitoring the pathway's progress and individual journeys
- Enrolling more young people in the programme
- Supporting employment across eight council teams hosting young people
- Maximising support from cross-council volunteers
- Engaging care-experienced young people in the programme's design
- Securing ring-fenced apprenticeships
- Developing functional skills training
- Sharing success stories within Southwark Council and regionally
The initiative aligns with the Corporate Parenting Strategy (2021-2025) and aims to provide a safe, healthy, and happy environment where young people can reach their potential. The council will measure the programme's success through a reduction in NEET (Not in Education, Employment, or Training) care leavers, increased training opportunities, and positive changes in support and confidence among care leavers. Positive changes in support and confidence will be measured through care leavers self-reporting on their support offer, confidence in sustaining in education, employment and training, and in the support and awareness within EET settings.
The council hopes to build on the success of the pilot scheme. One manager who hosted work experience said that the young people I met were really inspiring and were driven to improve their lives. It felt great to help build their confidence.
One young person who participated in the scheme said that the best thing about work experience was working with others, learning the role of the job and being able to do what they do. I have gained experience that I can put on my CV, and I want to do it again!
