What are care leavers’ rights?
If you are fostering children and young people on a long-term basis, or are considering long-term fostering, you might be wondering what help and support they receive when they are old enough to leave foster care.
Beacon Fostering understands that children who have lived in foster care are more likely to face challenges in the wider world compared to their non-care experienced peers, so here are some key things to know about the rights of care leavers.
Turning 18 – rights and entitlements
Although foster children who turn 18 are legally no longer ‘looked after’, they are likely to still need some support when finding employment and housing, and applying for university and jobs.
By law, the young person’s local authority must provide them with assistance, financial and otherwise, when applying for and undertaking education, employment and/or professional training.
According to the Children and Social Work Act 2017, they must also provide a personal advisor to care leavers, who they can go to for support until they turn 25.
Similarly, if you, the foster carer, and your foster child have agreed to undertake the Staying Put Scheme (where a care leaver stays with their foster parent until the age of 21), the local authority must provide support in this.
Who and where to go for complaints
If you, or a young person in your care, is dissatisfied with the way their local authority has treated them as a care leaver, Coram Voice, Citizens Advice, their social worker or the National Youth Advocacy Service can all provide guidance on any next steps. You can also reach out to the team at Beacon Fostering, who are are always on hand to provide support throughout all stages of the fostering journey.