The After Care Team provide a service for young people in public care from their last year at school, through to the end of being in care. For those young people who achieve care leaving status, we provide a service right through to 21 or 24 if they go on to Higher Education.
To achieve leaving care status; the young person must have been in care, for at least 13 weeks from their 14th birthday, and still be in care at 16, or for a period after their 16th birthday.
The After Care Team will complete an ‘Assessment of Need’ for each care leaver prior to their 16th birthday and in conjunction with them, draw up a ‘Pathway Plan’, which will list the young person’s needs and identify how those needs will be met. This plan will be reviewed 6 monthly.
The service enables young people to prepare for independent living and maximise their life chances.
We do this by:
- Young people in public care are transferred to After Care in the summer holidays between school year 10 and school year 11.
- Young people in care will still have all their needs met as they did previously as Looked After Children.
In addition we:
- Complete a comprehensive assessment of need, with the young person. We can then establish the levels of support, assistance or advice that should be offered to them as care leavers.
- Work closely with young people, so they are prepared and informed to engage with the process of planning.
- Work with young people and other professionals, such as Connexions Personal Advisers, to draw up a plan for future hopes and aspirations. This is called the "Pathway Plan".
- Co-ordinate the provision of services which are identified in the Pathway Plan and review the plan at least twice a year.
- Work closely with other agencies to offer choice and opportunities to young people in specific areas of education, employment and training.
- Ensure young people are always informed and participate in consultation.
We have further specific responsibilities to:
- Stay in touch with young people.
- Financially support 16 and 17 year old care leavers who are not in employment.
- Ensure that 16 and 17 year old care leavers are living in suitable accommodation.
- Ensure that all care leavers are in employment, education or training.
- Ensure that all care leavers have a Personal Adviser.
