Leaving care
There are a number of reasons why a young person might leave care. They could be allowed to go back to their family or they might move to another placement. This section refers specifically to those who have become care leavers at age 18. Your social worker will start planning for you leaving care at 16 years old.
Leaving care can be a scary thing. The thought of becoming a fully functional adult is daunting and learning the skills involved can seem like a never-ending challenge! What you are feeling is completely natural and you won’t be left unsupported. Your social worker wants to support you on your journey towards leaving care.
Your biological family can help when you leave care. If you wish, you can identify family members who have been positive role models and then we can work with them on how they can best help you to make the transition to independent life. Your family and caregivers should be given information about your after-care process.
- How will my Social Worker help me?
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Your social worker is the one who helps you to complete your ‘Pathway Plan’. This helps you think about what you need to do to get ready to leave care.
The plan will detail:
- Who will support you after you leave care.
- Where you will live.
- Your plans for going to college or getting a job.
- All the practical skills you need to learn (like managing money, cooking and paying bills).
- What money you will get and from where.
- Your health.
- Any other help you may need.
Your pathway plan will begin when you start the leaving care process and will last until you are 25 years old. Your pathway plan should be updated at least every 6 months. Remember to be ambitious! If you don’t ask, you won’t get, so you may as well request all of the support you want.
- Local Offer for Care Leavers
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Local Authorities have a duty to support care experienced young people to successfully move onwards and upwards to independence and to inform care leavers of what support is available to them.
Our Local Offer website explains your entitlements as a care leaver and will also help you to get the best out of the support on offer. The website has been created with input from care leavers and a variety of professionals who support care leavers in RBKC.
If you are a care leaver (aged between 16 and 25) you can use this website to find out what support you are able to access.