Leaving Care: Expectations and Support for Young People

Leaving care is a big step, and it is normal to have questions about what happens next. This page explains what you can expect, what support should be available to you, and how planning for your future works.

If you need clarification, support, or advice about anything on this page, please speak to your Supervising Social Worker.

What This Information Covers

This guidance is designed to help you understand:

• What you can expect as a care leaver
• How the law helps protect and support you
• What support may be available when you leave care
• How your future plans should be discussed and reviewed

Planning for Your Future

If you are preparing to leave care, you should have a statutory review meeting. This meeting is used to talk about your future and the support you may need.

Before the meeting, it can help to think about:

• Where you are going to live
• Whether you want to work, train, or continue in education
• How much support you think you will need from your social worker or personal adviser

Who Should Be at Your Review Meeting?

Your statutory review meeting may include:

• You
• An advocate, if you ask for one
• Your social worker
• Your carers
• Other people who support you, such as a mentor or someone from school or college
• An Independent Reviewing Officer, who checks that things are being done properly

You can ask for an advocate if you would like an adult to help explain things or support you during the meeting.

If You Are Unhappy With Your Meeting

If you are not happy with how your statutory review meeting went, you can make a formal complaint.

Your social worker, personal adviser, or Independent Reviewing Officer should explain how to do this and support you through the process.

What the Council Must Do to Help You

Your local council has responsibilities to support you as you prepare to leave care.

The council should:

• Give you a personal adviser who stays in touch after you leave care
• Carry out an assessment to understand what advice and support you need
• Prepare a Pathway Plan
• Make sure you have somewhere to live and enough money until you turn 18

Your Pathway Plan should explain what support you will receive and how your needs will be met.

Your Pathway Plan

The local council should write a Pathway Plan when you reach 16. This plan helps you prepare for leaving care and explains what support you should receive.

Your Pathway Plan should include plans for:

• Your health
• Education, training, and development
• Contact with family
• Managing money

A personal adviser should be involved in reviewing your Pathway Plan until you are 21, or older if you are still in education or training.

Your plan should be reviewed:

• At least every six months
• If you ask for a review
• If your personal adviser or the council asks for a review

Financial Support

There may be financial support available to help you as you leave care.

Support With Education

If you stay in full-time education, you may be able to receive a bursary of £1,200 per year. You should speak to your school, college, or education provider to find out how to claim the 16–19 bursary.

If you go on to higher education, such as university, you may also be eligible for a higher education bursary from your local council.

If you are in education or training, you may be able to receive support from a personal adviser until you are 25.

Setting Up Home Allowance

You may be able to get a setting-up home allowance, also known as a leaving care grant.

This can help you buy essential items when moving into your own home. Contact your local council to find out how much may be available.

Benefits

You may be able to claim certain benefits, depending on your circumstances. These could include support with income, housing, or looking for work.

Speak to your personal adviser or local council for guidance about what you may be able to claim.

Preparing to Leave Care

Leaving care does not always mean you have to leave where you are currently living.

For example, if you are living with foster carers, you may be able to continue living with them even after you are no longer classed as a looked-after young person.

Why Preparation Matters

Everyone’s situation is different. Care leavers come from different backgrounds and may need different types of support.

The more prepared you are, the more confident you may feel about your next steps. Good preparation can help make the move into independence more successful.

What Preparation Should Include

Preparing to leave care should help you:

• Build positive relationships
• Develop confidence and self-esteem
• Learn skills for independent living
• Understand your options
• Be involved in decisions about your future

You should be included in planning and review meetings so your voice is heard.

Support Available to Care Leavers

Support can look different for each person, but it may include:

• Drop-in support
• Out-of-hours or outreach support
• Mentoring or befriending
• Life skills training
• Someone to listen and offer guidance
• Regular contact with your personal adviser

Any support you need should be included in your Pathway Plan.

Thinking About Your Goals

Setting goals can help you plan for the future.

You may want to think about:

• A goal you would like to achieve
• Why that goal matters to you
• What might happen if you do not achieve it
• What the benefits would be if you do achieve it
• What actions you need to take
• When you will complete each action
• Who can support you along the way

Useful Organisations and Support

There are many organisations that offer information, advice, and support for young people and care leavers.

These include organisations that can help with:

• Care leaver support
• Housing advice
• Education and training
• Legal advice
• Mental health and wellbeing
• Money and debt advice
• Family support
• General advice and advocacy

If you are unsure which organisation is right for you, speak to your social worker, personal adviser, carer, or another trusted adult.

Download our ‘Leaving Care’ Guide

Click here to download our ‘Leaving Care – Expectations & Support’ handbook.

Need Support?

You do not have to work everything out on your own.

If you are preparing to leave care or have questions about your future, speak to your Supervising Social Worker or Personal Adviser. They can help you understand your options, access support, and make sure your views are included in your plans.

Contact Lorimer Fostering
0161 972 7760
learning@lorimerfostering.com