Leaving care
If you’ve been in care for more than 14 weeks since your 14th birthday (including some point when you were 16 or 17 years old), when you leave care, you should get help from Social Care Services to live independently. You should have a pathway plan which plans for your future, including where you want to live and whether you want to stay in full-time education or do any training. The plan will make sure you get the support you need.
Until you’re 18, Social Care Services will be responsible for your financial needs. Social Care Services should also be able to support you through your education, and this can continue through college and university until you’re 24 years old.
When you leave care your social worker should help you find suitable housing. (You’ll be regarded as a ‘priority’ by the local housing department when you’re18 - 21 years old.) Social Care Services should also keep in touch with you at least 4 times a year through your social worker or your leaving care worker.
Planning to leave care
Staffordshire and Stoke Social Care Services provide a Leaving Care Service for young people who’ve been looked after by Staffordshire County Council or Stoke-on-Trent City Council. It’s for young people who’re preparing to leave care or are already living independently. You can receive this service from 15 – 21 years of age (or up to 24 if you’re in full-time education). You can contact the Leaving Care Service through your Social Worker or directly at:
- Staffordshire Leaving Care Team. Phone 01785 277443
- Stoke-on-Trent Leaving Care Team. Phone 01782 233575
Helplines / Websites:
Voice have produced an interactive guide for care leavers to help you understand your rights when you leave care. If you’ve any questions on your rights or the level of support you receive, call Voice on their freephone number 0808 800 5792 or email help@voiceyp.org.
The site have some useful information on leaving care. Visit their website at www.thesite.org
The National Youth Advocacy Service (NYAS) is a UK charity that offers information, advice, advocacy and legal representation to children and young people up to the age of 25 - including advice to young people on leaving care and their rights. You can call them free on 0800 61 61 01, or send a text message to 0777 333 4555 or email help@nyas.net.
Staffordshire University’s website has lots of information about support available to eligible students who are care leavers. This can include the opportunity to take part in Univerity ‘tasters’, financial assistance via the Access to Learning Fund and provision of University managed accomodation for the time you’re enrolled (including holidays). Other Universities / HE colleges may also offer additional support for students who have been in care - it’s worth checking out their websites for details or speaking to the Student Support Officer.
