What support you should expect
So that you understand your rights, the law states that;
- For care leavers aged 16 and 17 the local authority is under an absolute duty to accommodate you as well as providing you with a social worker.
- For care leavers aged 18-20 there is a proactive duty on LA’s to assess your needs, and together develop a pathway plan which is kept under review.
- For care leavers aged 21-25 there is a duty on local authorities to keep in touch with care leavers and provide help and support if requested. This could be for a short or longer period of time depending on your assessed needs.
Access to a social worker or personal advisor
We will try to let you keep the same Social Worker or Personal Advisor, where possible. As a young adult, we’re here to support you with the move into adulthood and independence, so the relationship may seem different to the one you had with your Social Worker when you were looked after.
Social Workers and Personal Advisors want to be involved in discussions about your needs and your pathway plan after talking with you and the important people in your life. The pathway plan sets out your needs, views and future goals, and exactly what support you will receive from us. We review your pathway plan every 6 months with you so that it is kept up-to-date and reflects the level of support you want and need.
Your Social Worker or Personal Advisor will consider with you what extra support you may need. You might, for example, need extra support because:
- You have special educational needs or a disability.
- You are an unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Child (UASC) and your immigration status is unclear.
- You are in or leaving custody or you have had contact with the criminal justice system;
- You are a young parent; or
- You are going through a difficult time in your personal life.
Your Independent Reviewing Officer
Your Independent Reviewing Officer (IRO) will work with you and your Social Worker from your 16th birthday to ensure that your pathway plan meets your needs and that you have a say in how that plan looks. Your IRO will also talk with you about whether you and they might think it would be helpful to you for them to carry on chairing your pathway planning reviews once you are 18.
What's next?
Your Independent Reviewing Officer (IRO) will work with you and your social worker from your 16th birthday to ensure that your pathway plan meets your needs and that you have a say in how that plan looks. Your IRO will also talk with you about whether you and they might think it would be helpful to you for them to carry on chairing your pathway planning reviews once you are 18.