Recognising Care Leavers as a Protected Characteristic | bMindful Psychology

At bMindful Psychology, we work every day with children and care-experienced young people in residential care. We understand the long-term impact that early traumatic experiences, multiple changes of placement and carers, and lack of post-18 support can have on mental health, education, employment, and social opportunities. The well-known ACEs study on outcomes associated with early trauma gives many examples of this.

That’s why we strongly support the growing recognition of care leavers as a protected characteristic – a movement gaining momentum across the UK.

What Does “Protected Characteristic” Mean for Care Leavers?

In UK law, protected characteristics are personal traits safeguarded under the Equality Act 2010, such as age, race, disability, and sexual orientation. While care experience is not yet legally protected at the national level, many local authorities are taking action by adding it to their equality frameworks.

Over 60 Councils Now Recognise Care Experience

In the past year alone, more than 60 local authorities across England and Wales have voted to recognise care experience as a protected characteristic within their local policies.

These councils include:

• Leeds City Council

• North Somerset Council

• Shropshire Council

• Barnsley Council

• Newcastle City Council

• Stockport Council

Each has committed to practical actions such as:

• Guaranteed interviews for care-experienced applicants

• Including care experience in Equality Impact Assessments

• Anti-discrimination policies in housing, education, and employment

This local recognition helps tackle stigma and systemic barriers that care-experienced young people face — especially when transitioning to adulthood.

National Media Supports the Movement

In a powerful editorial published in The Guardian (February 2025), the newspaper stated:“Discrimination against people who have been in care remains endemic... Their voices must be heard – not just as individuals, but as a group whose shared experience deserves formal protection.”

This growing visibility is pushing for broader legal reform and helping care leavers feel seen, valued, and supported.

Why This Matters to Our Work in Residential Care

At bMindful Psychology, we provide therapeutic support in residential homes for children and teenagers who have experienced trauma and instability.

Recognising care leavers as a protected group aligns closely with our work because:

• It acknowledges their unique challenges and trauma backgrounds

• It promotes fair access to mental health support alongside education and employment opportunities

• It reduces stigma and discrimination often faced in adult life

The young people we support will one day transition out of care – and we want them to enter a world where they are not disadvantaged because of their past.

What’s Next? A Call for National Change

Despite widespread support at the local level, care experience is still not legally protected under the Equality Act 2010. Advocates are urging the UK Government to take action and officially include it.

As mental health professionals and advocates for young people, we at bMindful Psychology add our voice to that call.

Final Thoughts

Recognising care leavers as a protected characteristic is more than a policy change – it’s a step towards equality, fairness, and healing for some of the most vulnerable young people in our society.

To paraphrase Mahatma Gandhi: “The true measure of a society is how it treats its most vulnerable members.”

Visit bMindful Psychology to see how we’re supporting the mental health of care-experienced young people every day.