Childrens and Families minister Edward Timpson has unveiled new rules to ensure more 16 and 17-year-olds remain in care. Children in care would remain there until they reach 18 unless authorised to leave by a director of childrens services, Mr Timpson said. The move was part of a series of measures announced by the minister last month designed to support care leavers. Mr Timpson said: I wrote to all directors of childrens services in October asking them to dramatically improve support for care leavers, and I have been encouraged by their positive response. I now want all local authorities to commit to giving this support to care leavers. The new rules will mean that more 16- and 17-year-olds remain in care until their 18th birthday something the best local authorities are already doing. The government hopes that this will see many more young people leaving care when theyre ready to, rather than when they have to.