YOUNGSTERS in Thurrock are helping ensure teens are given appropriate accommodation as they prepare to leave care.

Four newlyptrained 'Young Inspectors' will be called upon when inspections are due for supported accommodation for young people.

The Young Inspectors will visit the accommodation, interview the staff and young people living there before writing a report on their findings.

Their views and suggestions will feed into the overall inspections of the accommodation and help to improve the services for the young people living there.

Thurrock Young Voices is behind the scheme. These are a group of children and young people in Thurrock, who are involved in decision-making processes that affect them.

The group's goal is to ensure that the voices of children and young people are heard and considered when making decisions that impact them.

Representatives of the Young Voices attended a corporate parenting overview and scrutiny meeting on Tuesday, to tell councillors about the scheme.

Councillors heard how four of them attended the young inspectors training and are now trained to inspect semi-independent placements with the children's services commissioning team.

After interviewing staff and young people they reporting back to the commissioning team. They will be contacted whenever an inspection is due.

At the meeting, officer Adriana Cimpean, said: "We wrote the young inspectors framework in 2024. It was a very big project that required a lot of infrastructure and a lot of people across children's services including our commissioning team for young voices . We've had the framework agreed and had young people trained in October so now we are hoping to launch the first inspections.

"Our intention is to start off by inspecting supported accommodation settings so 16 plus and our young voices are very much looking forward to these inspections and then we want to expand that to visit other settings as well.

Ms Cimpean added: "They conduct interviews with young people and managers and have a look around the setting and write a mini report, We are really seriously taking their voice into account."

Cathy Sisterson, Labour councillor for Aveley and Uplands, welcomed the scheme. She said: "I think it's a really good idea because they will have a unique insight into what's required

Chairman, Cllr Mark Hurrell, added: "Everything you do is just brilliant."

Thurrock offers support and advice for young care leavers up to the age of 25.