Care leavers up to four times more likely to die young as report warns of dangerous ‘care cliff’

Young people leaving the care system are dying at up to four times the rate of others their age, with a new government-commissioned review warning that the transition into adulthood can leave some of the country’s most vulnerable young people without the support they need.

The independent review found that 112 deaths of care leavers aged 18 to 24 were reported to the Department for Education in 2025.

This represents an estimated death rate of around 130 per 100,000 care leavers – approximately three to four times higher than among other young people of the same age.

More than a third of the deaths examined by the review were believed to be suicides, while drug and alcohol misuse, homelessness, loneliness and serious mental health difficulties were recurring factors.

One age stood out particularly strongly: 18.

More care leavers died at 18 than at any other age examined, highlighting concerns about the sudden reduction in support that can occur as young people move from children’s services into adult services.

The report, You really are on your own: a study of the early deaths of young people who were in care, was led by author and broadcaster Ashley John-Baptiste and social work leader Clare Chamberlain.

It identifies three major themes contributing to the vulnerability of care leavers: being alone and potentially unprepared for adulthood, a drop in the level of support available after leaving care, and problems with the workforce responsible for helping young people make the transition.

The review examined the circumstances surrounding deaths reported during 2025 and looked in greater detail at the experiences of six young people aged between 18 and 24.

Their circumstances included young people in adult prisons, young women who had experienced the removal of their own children, young people seeking asylum, people with serious medical conditions and those who had been murdered or died by suicide.

The findings have renewed concerns about what has become known as the “care cliff” – the point at which young people can experience a significant reduction in practical and emotional support as they enter adulthood.

Chamberlain said the review reinforced what care leavers had been saying for years, warning that the state could not replace a family and that more needed to be done to tackle acute loneliness among the most vulnerable young people.

Alongside publication of the review, the Government has announced £25 million of investment this year to expand supported housing programmes for care leavers.

Changes coming into force from 30 September will also require councils to publish details of how they will support care leavers into independent living, while care leavers will no longer be able to be found intentionally homeless.

The Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act will also extend corporate parenting responsibilities to more public bodies, including the NHS, jobcentres, prisons and probation services.

The review calls for improvements across the workforce, supported accommodation, healthcare and support for care leavers in custody, alongside stronger processes for learning lessons following the death of a young person.

The authors warned that while care leavers have different experiences and needs, the transition into adulthood must not mean suddenly losing the network of support that surrounded them as children.

Stay informed with the stories shaping health and social care.