Now forming ยท England
Help shape the National Framework for Care Leaver Mentoring.
Every council in England is now expected to offer care leavers mentoring and befriending, but there's no shared picture yet of what good looks like. We're bringing together care-experienced young people, councils and specialists to agree one: a free, open framework anyone can use.
Be part of it
We're inviting young people, councils and specialists to help write the Framework, and we want to hear from everyone else too.
Sign up and every fortnight we'll share one question the groups are working through. Reply, and your view is taken into the room and helps shape the Framework.
We'll only use your details for the Framework: the fortnightly question and, if you tick a box, getting in touch about groups or the pilot. Unsubscribe any time.
Why now
Every council is now expected to offer care leavers mentoring.
30.09.26
The law changed
New statutory guidance for care leaver local offers names mentoring and befriending, and puts relationships at the heart of leaving care.
1 of 4
Ofsted is looking
Care leaver services are now one of four standalone Ofsted judgements, and high personal adviser caseloads are named as limiting relationships.
17% to 1%
Mentoring works when it's done well
Government's own evaluation found loneliness fell sharply. But older care leavers out of work and education were the most likely to drop out.
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Shared standards for what good looks like
How mentors are recruited, trained, matched and supported makes the difference. Right now there's no agreed picture of any of it.
Where we're starting from
On the morning the new duty began, we read every council's local offer.
Only 10 councils had published their new 2026 offer, so this is a starting point, not a verdict. We'll look again in October and share what's changed.
157
councils and children's trusts checked
59
mention mentoring or befriending in their offer
20
describe a service in detail: who delivers it, who can use it and how
What we're building
A shared picture of good, a way to measure it, and the people to make it credible.
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The Framework
What good care leaver mentoring looks like: recruitment and vetting, mentor training, matching, supervision, safeguarding, how relationships last and end, young people's voice, and what councils should see reported.
Plus what a mentor needs to know about education, housing, money, mental health and exploitation, and where to signpost.
Free for anyone to use
02
The scorecard
A free self-assessment councils can use to see how their care leaver mentoring measures up, with the criteria published in full.
Every council that takes part adds to an anonymised national picture of care leaver mentoring in England.
Piloting with councils in early 2027
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The people
Bringing together the best voices in the sector: care-experienced young people, councils, academics, and specialists in education, housing, mental health and safety.
They shape every draft, and anyone in the sector can have their say.
Groups forming now
Where this goes next
Over time, the Framework will grow into a shared resource bank, where specialist organisations contribute training and guidance for mentors.
Our working theory of change
How a shared framework changes things for young people.
This is a draft. Tell us where it's wrong.
1. The problem (now)
No shared definition of good. Quality varies, the young people most at risk drop out soonest, and councils can't evidence quality.
2. What we do (October 2026 to 2027)
Write the Framework together. Build a free scorecard. Publish a yearly national picture. Grow a resource bank.
3. Councils and providers (short term)
A shared language. Councils know where they stand. Local offers describe real services, and specifications cite the Framework.
4. Relationships (medium term)
More care leavers matched with a well-trained, supported mentor. Fewer relationships ending early. Problems spotted sooner.
5. Young people (long term)
Lasting relationships and less loneliness. More in education, work or training. Steadier homes. Safer lives.
What has to be true
- Councils will use a free tool if it helps them show quality to their corporate parenting panel and Ofsted.
- How mentors are recruited, trained, matched and supported is what decides whether relationships last.
- Young people's involvement makes the Framework better, not just more legitimate.
How we'll know
- Councils using the scorecard, and specifications citing the Framework.
- Change between our reviews of published local offers.
- How long relationships last, and how engaged young people stay, in pilot areas.
- What young people tell us.
How it's being made
In the open, with young people holding real power.
Goal 17 convenes the Framework and holds the pen. Here's how we keep it honest.
Three groups. Care-experienced young people, specialists and academics, and councils, each meeting separately and together.
Young people can say no. Nothing goes out that the youth group says doesn't reflect young people's experience.
Academic sign-off. A named academic partner shapes the method and signs it off.
Open criteria, open decisions. The scorecard's criteria are published in full, and a public decision log records where people disagreed and why.
The timeline
October 2026: groups form
November 2026: first open questions, in National Care Leavers' Month
January 2027: consultation draft published
Early 2027: councils pilot the scorecard
Spring 2027: version 1 published
Latest
Where things stand
From November, this is where the latest open question will lead.
30 September 2026
We checked every council's care leaver local offer
A baseline taken the morning the new duty began. We'll look again in October.
Coming soon
Partners joining the Framework
We'll name each partner here as they come on board.
Get involved
There's a place for you in this.
Everyone
Get one open question every fortnight, argue it with us, and see your replies shape the Framework.
Councils
Tell us what would make the Framework useful to you, take part in the national survey, or register to pilot the scorecard.
Care-experienced young people
Help decide what good mentoring looks like from your side. You'll be paid for your time, and supported throughout.
Who's involved
The groups are forming now.
We'll name each partner here as they join: an academic partner, and specialists in education, safety and exploitation, housing and mental health, alongside partner councils and care-experienced young people.
Want to be part of it? Get in touch โ
