There are a number of different accommodation options for care leavers, depending on the needs and maturity of the young person.
The independent reviewing officer and social worker will work with the young person, alongside their placement provider and other relevant agencies, to agree their accommodation and support pathways on leaving care. The care leaver’s housing advisor can also support with identifying the best housing options for a young person on an individual basis.
Staying Put
This enables care leavers to remain with their former foster carer beyond the age of 18 and this will be discussed with the young person as part of the pathway planning process before they reach the age of 16.
Where both the young person and their former carer wish to continue living together, the council is under a duty to support this arrangement, including financially.
There are 3 broad categories of need or placement type for which a Staying Put arrangement might be appropriate for young people in foster care and agreed:
- to meet education or training needs
- because a young person is vulnerable
- planned move-on.
Where it is felt that a young person needs such an arrangement but appears not to meet the criteria under each of these categories, a request should be made to the Care and Resources Panel who will review the request to make an informed decision.
Young people in Staying Put arrangements will no longer receive the allowances they were provided with as looked after children and will be expected to claim means tested benefits and Housing Benefit. The council will continue to provide a level of financial support to the foster carer, reviewed as part of the individual care package).
Although we would expect most young people to have moved to live independently by their 21st birthday, some young people may continue living with their foster carer if it is felt that this would be in their best interest. This would be a private arrangement between the young person and their carer and would unlikely be funded by the council.
Social workers will continue to work with their young person to prepare them for move on, supporting the young person with the transition from a Staying Put arrangement to any other type of accommodation, and identifying what support is required.
Semi-Independent Living (SIL) accommodation
Care leavers who move on from foster care but are not yet ready to live in their own accommodation, will often move into SIL accommodation.
We commission local, in-borough SIL provision which includes a package of wrap around support to ensure young people not only getting the support they currently need but also develop life skills to enable a successful transition to independence. We commission a combination of high support and flexi-support accommodation to ensure the provision meets the needs of each individual.
The contract is currently delivered by Centrepoint who we work closely in partnership with to deliver a quality service to our young people. Referrals into these services and room matching are managed at regular allocation meetings and overseen by the pathway manager at Centrepoint, in consultation with principal social workers and team managers in the Leaving Care Service.
This ensures young people are matched according to their needs and takes into account the makeup of existing residents. These services have shared communal facilities and staff on site, with young people receiving regular key work sessions to prepare them to move on into their own accommodation.
Where our in-borough provision is not suitable for young people then an out-of-borough SIL placement will be commissioned by our internal placements team in consultation with the young person’s social worker.
Living with family, friends and relatives
For some young people, it might be the right option to return to living with a family member, or family friend.
If the young person is under 18, then the social worker will complete an assessment of the suitability of this option and what support might be needed. The assessment will cover the wishes of the young person, and the family member’s ability to meet the physical, emotional and practical needs of the young person.
Consideration will be given to any financial support (determined via a financial assessment), and if the family would benefit from emotional support and guidance to sustain healthy relationships. A referral for a family group conference can also be made, to assist the family to fully consider and take part in the planning.
University accommodation
If a young person is at university, we will support them to access and fund suitable accommodation both during term time and over holiday periods. Most universities will offer accommodation in student halls of residence, and in some universities care leavers can remain there over the holiday period.
Some young people may wish to do this, whilst others may return to their foster carer, a relative or friend, or go travelling. The social worker will support the young person to consider which is the best option for them through the pathway planning process.
We have a comprehensive support offer for young people attending university, including an annual parental contribution, which is a package of financial support towards rent and cost of living (subject to agreement by the 18+ panel). More details can be found in our care leavers local offer.
Social housing
We have a dedicated annual quota of 50 properties for care leavers to enable young people who wish to remain in the borough to transition to independence.
We have a comprehensive offer to support young people with their transition including:
- a setting up home allowance
- council tax exemption (until the age of 25)
- and arranging flooring for their property prior to moving in.
More details can be found Section 7.
Private rented sector, including house shares
Where young people would prefer to go down the private rental route we will support access to this, acting as a guarantor and providing financial support including deposit and first month’s rent. More details can be found in Section 6.
This option may be more suited to those who have settled out of borough.