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Leaving and after care
Leaving care is a big step into independence and adult life and should be discussed in-depth with your worker. It’s important that you raise your views and discuss your future goals so you can be supported to achieve them. The Leaving and After Care Service in Essex has put together a guide with the help of local young people in care. It explains the role of your Social Worker, where the Leaving and After Care Team fits in, plus tenancy and housing issues.
Are you 16 and soon to leave care?
If you are either 16 or nearly 16, and ‘Looked After’ by Essex County Council, the ‘Leaving and After Care Service’ will offer support to you (under the Children Leaving Care Act 2000), when or if you have been looked after for 13 weeks since your 14th birthday (not necessarily in one block) and you are in care at 16 or afterward. The Leaving and After Care leaflet Moving Forward is a guide to what you might expect in the way of accommodation or housing when you become 16 and are soon to leave care.
Are you 18 and soon to leave care?
The journey from 16 to 18 years of age is crucial for what might be available to you at or around your 18th birthday (becoming an adult). You need to make sure that you are speaking to your worker, carer and others who support you, so that you understand what can happen, what can’t and why, and what is available in the area you either live or want to live in, now, soon or in the future. The Leaving and After Care leaflet Moving On is a guide to getting where you want to be, which could be your own flat or bed-sit when you become 18 and are soon to leave care.
Hanging on to your accommodation
Having got somewhere to live, which is suitable to your needs, hanging on to it is very important. The Leaving and After Care leaflet Staying On is a guide to staying in your own place, the benefits and the pitfalls.
Help lines
- Barnardo’s Essex Advocacy Service - 0800 652 4546, essexadvocacyservice@Barnardos.org.uk (Independent advocacy for children and young people looked after, care leavers, children and young people assessed as in need, through the provision of the Essex Advocacy Service)
- Shelter Advice Line - 0808 800 4444
- Leaving and After Care Service West Area – 01279 426700
- Leaving and After Care Service South Area – 01702 544458
- Leaving and After Care Service North Area – 01206 768067
- Leaving and After Care Service Mid Area – 01245 431545
Useful websites
Essex County Council: looked after children
Essex County Council website has information for looked after children.
Barnardo’s
Whatever the issue, from drug misuse to disability; youth crime to mental health; sexual abuse to domestic violence; poverty to homelessness; Barnardo’s aims to bring out the best in every child.
A National Voice
The charity run by young people for young people in and leaving care. Provides detailed information about the Leaving Care Act.
National Youth Advocacy Service
Offers advice, information, support and representation to young people in and leaving care on their rights.
The Who Cares? Trust
A national charity working to improve the lives of children and young people in and leaving care.
Last updated 10/05/11
Your Comments
Posted - 08:56, 18 Dec 2009
Hi thanks for your email. Many young people go through a phase of not getting on with parents, Connexions could signpost you to a service that could mediate between yourself and your family, this would enable both you and your parents to sit and talk things over in a calm and safe manner. At 16, although you can leave home, it is felt that a young person is generally better living at home and parents really have a duty of care until you are 18. Think carefully before making a decision to leave home, as you may not be able to get tenancy on a flat or a room. You should consider how you would afford to pay for rent, food and bills, especially if you still in education. If you can’t resolve the conflict with your parents you can call into your local Connexions Centre and talk to a personal adviser as there may be underlying issues and Connexions can signpost you to different agencies that can help. Visit your local Connexions Centre or email cnx.webmaster@essex.gov.uk if you want to talk further. Hope this helps Connexions PA
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Posted - 02:28, 16 Dec 2009
i'm 16 and want to move out but dont care from the county councell, but i'm having trouble at home whats the best thing to do. i've taken advice for almost everyone.