Advice for Care Leavers

• Have left care 
• Are aged 16 or 17 
• Spent more than 13 weeks in care since the age of 14
• (including time on or after your 16th birthday)

…then your care status is a ‘Relevant Child’.

• Have left care 
• Are aged 18-25 
• Spent more than 13 weeks in care since the age of 14, including time on or after your 16th birthday 
• Have not returned to live in your family home for more than 6 months before you turned 18 

…then your care status is a ‘Former Relevant Child’

• You have the right to be heard, and for your wishes and feelings to be taken into account when decisions are made about you.
• You have the right to an advocate, who is there to ensure your views are being listened to. They can attend meetings with you, raise issues, and support you if you wish to make a complaint. 
• You are entitled to make a complaint- all Local Authorities have complaints procedures they must follow, to ensure all complaints are looked into in a fair.
• You must have a Personal Advisor allocated to you. They should visit you at least every two months, and within seven days of any move.  

• Your social worker should undertake a needs assessment with you before you leave care to make sure you are ready to live on your own. This includes making sure you are ready to do things like budget, cook, clean, pay bills, and address other aspects of living on your own
• Around the age of 16, your social worker should begin your Pathway Plan with you. 

• The Local Authority should find you safe and suitable housing, and pay for the cost of this accommodation.

• The Local Authority should ensure you are given an allowance. This can be no less than the amount you would be getting if you were accessing benefits.
• Depending on your situation, you may be entitled to more money. Your Personal Advisor should do a financial assessment to know how much money you need. A financial assessment should look at how much money you have, how much you spend, and what costs need to be covered.

• You are likely to be eligible for the 16-19 Bursary. This is up to £1200 and might include money for books, equipment or travel costs to school or college.
• To apply for this, speak to your Personal Advisor, a teacher, or student services at your school or college. 

• You are entitled to a Personal Advisor. Their job is to provide you with practical and emotional support as you become an independent adult. 
• Your Personal Advisor should keep in touch with you, and visit you regularly. You should know the name and contact details of your Personal Advisor, and how to reach them.
• You have a right to an advocate, who is there to ensure your views are being listened to. They can attend meetings with you, raise issues, and support you if you wish to make a complaint.
• You are entitled to make a complaint- all Local Authorities have complaints procedures they must follow, to ensure all complaints are looked into in a fair

• Your social worker should undertake a needs assessment with you before you leave care to make sure you are ready to live on your own. This includes ensuring you are ready to do things like budget, cook, clean and look into other aspects of living independently.
• Around the age of 16, your social worker should begin planning your Pathway Plan with you. This should be reviewed at least every 6 months, or when you request a review of the plan.

• Once you are over 18, you are usually financially responsible for your accommodation and day to day living costs. 
• Your Personal Advisor should provide you with information and advice around your accommodation and finances, such as budgeting, setting up bills, applying for benefits and how to arrange a tenancy.
• You are entitled to a ‘setting up home allowance’, which is usually around £2000. This is for you to spend on things like furniture and essentials for your home.
• If you are aged 18,19 or 20 and become homeless, you will automatically have a ‘priority need’ when applying as homeless to housing. If you are 21 or over, you may still have a ‘priority need’ if you are applying as homeless depending on your circumstances.
• You are exempt from the shared accommodation rate up until the age of 25 

• Between the ages of 16-18, you are entitled to a 16-19 bursary for Further Education. This is up to £1200 and might include money for books, equipment or travel costs to school or college. To apply for this, speak to your Personal Advisor, a teacher, or student services at your school or college.
• You can also get a 16-19 bursary if you are 19 and over and:– are continuing on a course you started aged 16 to 18 (known as being a ’19+ continuer’)
  or
  – have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) Children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND): Extra help – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
• If you attend University, you are entitled to a Higher Education bursary which is a minimum of £2000.
• The Local Authority should provide or pay for accommodation during college or university holidays if you are studying away from home.
• The Local Authority may contribute towards living expenses incurred near to your work, education or training.