How Converge is supporting the Care Leaver Covenant

At Converge we are proud to commit to The Care Leaver Covenant. It was established in 2018 as part of the Government’s Keep on Caring policy aimed at supporting young people leaving care. The Covenant invites organisations from all sectors — businesses, charities, local authorities, universities, and others — to pledge support to care leavers.

It’s a fact that young people leaving care are more likely to face disadvantages and barriers compared with those who grew up in stable family settings. These challenges can affect their educational outcomes, employment prospects, housing situation and mental and physical health, sometimes profoundly.

In terms of education and employment, issues include:

• Care leavers are far less likely to attend or complete higher education — only around 6% attend university, compared to about 40% of all young people.
• Interrupted schooling and frequent placement changes can cause learning gaps.
• Many lack access to careers advice, networks, and financial support.
• Some employers may hold stigma or misconceptions about care-experienced young people.
• Some care leavers struggle to access stable employment, often ending up in insecure or low-paid jobs with all the financial insecurity that follows.

10,000 young people leave care every year, and we can’t afford to ignore the challenges they face. That’s why this year, Converge became signatories of the Care Leaver Covenant, who work with more than 600 organisations across the country to connect care leavers with exclusive opportunities in education, work, wellbeing, money and their home.

Playing our part at Converge

We have always been there to support colleagues and communities. Since becoming signatories to the Covenant, we have developed an internal support network for team members who’ve both been in care and have been carers themselves. This provides an inclusive structure to offer support, coaching and signposting to people who have had lived experiences of being in care.

This supports our commitment as a Foster Friendly employer and embracing family friendly policies such as:

• More flexible working – family-friendly hours and working arrangements matter. 29% are now hybrid, with 22% home-based.
• Flexi-hours – while flexible hours are appreciated across our teams, that’s especially the case for the carers we employ.
• Training - A focus on apprenticeships – Developing careers in IT – we’ve created 41 opportunities at level 2, 3, and 4+ to date.
• Introducing mental health ambassadors – with 18 now across the business to provide a point of contact to ensure people are referred for support where needed.

Policies provide the framework but ultimately everything starts with listening, identifying and building on skills whatever the background.

Insights from our team

The way to really appreciate the challenges that both care leavers and care providers face is to ask them, and that’s exactly what we did recently with two members of the team here at Converge. Both responses have been anonymised to protect their privacy.

A care leaver's experience:

Age at Leaving Care: Late teens
Location: Stafford
Type of Care Experience: Residential children’s homes
Duration in Care: Approximately 10 years

I entered the care system in the 1980s following family difficulties. At that time, the care system offered limited emotional and educational support compared to what is available today.

Most of my childhood was spent in residential care settings, with several changes in placement. Relationships with staff varied, and while there were some positive experiences, consistent emotional support was lacking. Educational opportunities were often disrupted, but I developed a strong sense of independence and resilience.

Leaving care at a young age came with significant challenges. There was little structured aftercare or guidance, and I moved directly into independent living. Early employment involved short-term roles, but confidence and stability took time to build.

There was a natural barrier to finding employment due to my limited qualifications and gaps in work history, coupled with a lack of confidence. When I secured employment, adapting to new technologies and systems required additional learning support.

After accessing local employment and skills support services within Staffordshire, I was paired with a workplace mentor who provided ongoing guidance, reassurance, and skills development support, including coaching in communication and confidence-building.

Managers at the organisation completed training on supporting care-experienced individuals, focusing on empathy and trauma awareness, along with flexible working arrangements during the onboarding period to support well-being and gradual adjustment.

My achievements to date include:

• Securing a position at Converge Technology Solutions who are committed to inclusive recruitment.
• Developed customer service and digital skills and consistently met sales targets after initial training.
• Gained confidence, workplace stability, and recognition for reliability and professional growth.
• Acknowledged by colleagues and managers for resilience and dedication.

“Having patient, understanding people around me made all the difference. I finally feel like I belong in a workplace that values me.”

A foster carer's experience:

Location: Staffordshire
Fostering Experience: Long-term foster carer
Years of Service: 10+ years
Type of Care Provided: Long-term and short-term placements, mainly with teenagers preparing for independence

I became a foster carer in the mid-2000s. I’d always wanted to do something meaningful, making a difference in a young person’s life. I remember meeting my first foster child and realising how much fear and uncertainty many of them carry when they arrive.

Over the years, I’ve cared mostly for teenagers who came into care after difficult experiences. Many of them arrived with low confidence, mistrust, and disrupted education. Building relationships took time and patience, but I found that consistency, humour, and small gestures of care helped create a sense of belonging.

Helping them transition into adulthood has been one of the most rewarding and emotional parts of this journey. Watching a young person gain employment or move into their own flat is a proud moment — even if it comes with a few tears and a lot of worry!

There have been challenges along the way. Supporting young people who have experienced trauma can be emotionally draining at times, especially when they struggle to trust or express how they feel.

It can also be difficult when systems change — new social workers, new processes — because young people need consistency. The transition to independence is often the hardest part. It’s bittersweet to let go while still wanting to make sure they’re safe, happy, and managing on their own.

I’ve been lucky to have strong support from the local authority fostering team, including regular supervision and access to training. The trauma-informed care workshops have been invaluable in helping me understand behaviour and respond with empathy rather than frustration.

I’ve also part of a peer support network of other foster carers in Staffordshire, which has made a huge difference — sometimes you need to talk to someone who truly understands.

In recent years, I’ve seen more collaboration between foster carers, local employers, and support teams. For example, one of my former foster children now works for a local company in Stafford. Knowing they have access to mentoring and understanding managers gives me confidence that they’ll continue to thrive.

Looking back, I’ve cared for more than a dozen young people — and I’m proud of every single one of them. Some have gone on to university, others into trades, and a few have become parents themselves.

One of my proudest moments was hearing from a young person who said: “You were the first person who believed I could do something with my life.” Comments like that remind me why fostering matters.

Since joining Converge, I’ve seen the difference that an inclusive and flexible employer can make. As a Foster Friendly employer, Converge recognises the practical and emotional realities of fostering.

The company’s flexible working approach and policies have allowed me to attend important meetings, training sessions, and school reviews without added stress or stigma. Managers genuinely understand the balance required, and the culture encourages open conversation about family and caring responsibilities.

Having that flexibility, along with access to a supportive network of colleagues and mental health ambassadors, has meant I can continue fostering while maintaining a fulfilling career. It’s reassuring to work somewhere that not only understands the challenges but actively supports those who care for others.

“Fostering isn’t about being perfect — it’s about being present. You can’t fix everything, but you can give a young person stability, patience, and a sense that someone truly cares about them.”