The world around our children and young people is changing more quickly than ever before – and so is the support we need to give them to ensure they’re safe, well, and able to overcome issues and concerns, and to develop the resilience they need to thrive in their lives.
Taking into account cultural needs, gender/sexuality and diversity, we aim to identify and refer our young people to services that offer specialist support in their area of need and continue to advocate for them.
Substance misuse, gang life leading to county lines has left many young people vulnerable and at times taking risks in order to fit with their peers or for their safety. We work with partners and community groups to educate and offer advice on alternatives to safer lifestyles.
We make sure that our young person has a keyworker who they can turn to in times of need; building positive relationships to develop trust and providing a safe space to express their feelings and wishes. This then allows us to support them to access appropriate support where needed. Through our outreach support, young people have an adult by their side to help solve their problems and guide them.
Leaving care should be planned by the young people and their carers long before a young person’s 18th birthday. Just as any good parent supports their children to prepare for independence, children and young people in care should be helped to develop practical domestic skills like cooking healthy meals, doing their own laundry and managing their money. When the leaving care process formally starts, close to the young person’s 16th birthday, young people and their social worker/personal adviser will begin working on their pathway plan. The pathway plan should set out the individual package of support that the local authority will provide to help the young person achieve their goals. It might cover their education, training or employment ambitions, where they want to live, what financial help they require or what their mental health needs are. It should be updated every six months and it must reflect the care leaver’s wishes. When the leaving care process formally starts, close to the young person’s 16th birthday, young people and their social worker/personal adviser will begin working on their pathway plan. The pathway plan should set out the individual package of support that the local authority will provide to help the young person achieve their goals. It might cover their education, training or employment ambitions, where they want to live, what financial help they require or what their mental health needs are. It should be updated every six months and it must reflect the care leaver’s wishes.
In England and Wales, the leaving care age is 18, although young people can leave care from the age of 16. At 18, however, a young person’s care order ends and the local authority is no longer their corporate parent. All statutory support from the local authority will end by age 25. Some 16 or 17-year-olds actively choose to leave care, while they are still children in the eyes of the law – too young to smoke, drink or vote. Some feel they are ready, are excited at the prospect of not having adults around to tell them what to do, or are unhappy in their placement. But independent living may be much harder than they expected. But many young people don’t feel ready to leave their foster carers or residential home at 16, 17 or 18. They are afraid of being lonely and having no one to turn to when things go wrong. All statutory support from the local authority will end by age 25. Some 16 or 17-year-olds actively choose to leave care, while they are still children in the eyes of the law – too young to smoke, drink or vote. Some feel they are ready, are excited at the prospect of not having adults around to tell them what to do, or are unhappy in their placement. But independent living may be much harder than they expected. But many young people don’t feel ready to leave their foster carers or residential home at 16, 17 or 18. They are afraid of being lonely and having no one to turn to when things go wrong.
Identity is formed by family life, history, culture, religion and race and further develops through outside experiences and social interactions.
Contact refers to the ways that children in care keep in touch with birth parents, siblings and other family members while they are in care.
Outcomes for looked after children in education are poorer than their peers, and the gap gets wider as children get older.
A high proportion of care leavers are not in employment and training by the age of 19, compared to their non-looked after peers.
Living independently requires a care leaver to manage their money, pay their bills on time and live on a budget.
Many children in care experience poor emotional wellbeing and some experience diagnosable mental health problems.
Everyone needs somewhere that we call home; having the chance to settle into a foster or residential placement over a period of time gives children a feeling of belonging.
There is lots of legislation, regulation and guidance that tells children in care and care leavers what rights and entitlements they have because they are, or have been, looked after children.
We don’t believe in ‘one size fits all’. We understand that we need to earn trust and respect by being reliable, safe and having caring staff who you can get to young people gradually. We won’t assume how they feel – they will tell us when the time is right.
Young people will be taught practical skills to care for themselves and also prepare for independent living. We provide homes that have all the fixtures with all essential fittings. They’re clean and decorated, with furniture, bedding, kitchen equipment, crockery, cutlery and utensils. Young people will be taught skills ranging from managing your money, how to deal with everyday tasks such as shopping and cleaning. Young people will be encouraged participate in the home and have a say in the way things are done. They will be matched with a keyworker suitable for their needs.
Our introduction process will leave the young person less anxious, less nervous as we are aware moving into a new home, new support networks, new environment and thinking about making new friendships as they settle can be stressful and scary. Our Keyworkers will take the time understand each young person’s past experiences like loss, trauma and abuse can change their lives completely and may impact young people in different ways, with the aim of supporting them work through any challenges they may be facing. We’re conscious some young people may not be ready to access support or help, because they maybe struggling to trust, or maybe embarrassed to admit they need help.
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