Leaving Care
The Leaving Care Team supports young people who are Care Leavers. They are allocated a Personal Adviser when they are aged 16 to work alongside a Social Worker to support the transition from care.
The Personal Adviser becomes the allocated worker when the young person leaves care. The Personal Adviser will support young people to achieve their potential, ensure they have they have their needs met and fulfil our statutory obligations.
Where we are based
We currently have three office bases:
- Gloucester – We are based centrally in Shire Hall, there is a hub for care leavers to visit directly below our office space.
- Cheltenham – We are based in Grosvenor Hall in the centre of Cheltenham, the building is accessible for care leavers.
- Stroud – We are based centrally in Redwood House.
Who we are
We have six Leaving Care Teams working with care leavers aged 16 - 25, each team comprises of:
- A Team Manager (social work qualified)
- An Advanced Practitioner (social work qualified)
- A Senior Personal Adviser (experienced working with care leavers)
- Four or five Personal Advisers (experienced in working with young people)
- An Administrator
Skills you'll need
Key areas of the day to day role of a Personal Adviser include completing Pathway Plans in partnership with our young people and care leavers and being skilled in building trusting and respectful relationships . Additionally, the ability to be creative and persistent to always strive and seek the best outcomes for our care leavers.
The most important skill we would look for is enthusiasm and motivation to support care leavers reach their potential.
You would be skilled at building trusting relationships with young people and having the tenacity and dedication to keep on goingYou will be skilled at listen, be empathetic and advocate for Care Leavers so they can achieve their potential and their voices are heard and responded to.
You will be an effective team player and experienced in partnership working
Above all be willing to learn, gain skills and develop as the very best practitioner to support our Care Leavers.
Why you should join us
Here's what our colleagues say:
Dave Stewart, Service Manager, said:
"I have worked for Gloucestershire for 17 years in several different teams and areas. As a service manager for our Leaving Care teams, I share the passion and commitment we demonstrate for Care Leavers in our service.
Our teams and Personal Advisers are skilled and highly motivated to provide the best outcomes and opportunities for Care Leavers but, also the importance of doing this in partnership with young people.
If you joined us, we would always commit to regular supervision, training and support. You would be coming in to settled and friendly teams with an emphasis on learning and helping you to grow and develop in your new career."
We work well with lots of other agencies and professionals and are great at networking.
We are often the longest serving professional in a young person’s life and we feel young people value us as their personal advisers.
We have extensive knowledge and lots of experienced team members with specialist skills. We also have supportive managers.
We have a passion for working with our care experienced young people and we are not afraid to be their voice and advocate for them.
The teams are passionate about what we do and constantly strive to achieve for best outcomes for our care experienced young people. The team welcomes new starters with open arms and members support each other every day.
Get in touch
Please contact any of our teams and we’d be happy to respond:
Gloucester:
✉ Email: Leavingcareteam1@gloucestershire.gov.uk
✉ Email: LeavingCareTeam2@gloucestershire.gov.uk
Stroud:
✉ Email: LeavingCareTeam3@gloucestershire.gov.uk
✉ Email: LeavingCareTeam4@gloucestershire.gov.uk
Cheltenham:
✉ Email: LeavingCareTeam5@gloucestershire.gov.uk
✉ Email: LeavingCareTeam6@gloucestershire.gov.uk
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