Preparing for adult life can be a worrying or challenging time for a lot of young people, but for care-experienced young people it can be even more scary.
Your social worker will be there to support every step of the way, as you approach 16, then 18, and you’ll also be introduced to your personal assistant before you turn 18.
Your social worker will help you and your family create a plan for transition when you reach fourteen, which is normally in year 9.
If you are likely to need support from adult social care, your social care worker will usually be the person who talks to you about completing a transition assessment. Sometimes it might be your Independent Reviewing Officer (IRO) who identifies that you may need adult social care support.
As you approach 16, your social worker will start to complete a pathway plan with you, ready for when you turn 16.
Your social worker and personal advisor will bring together all the information they need to make sure that you know the people working with you. We will look at your pathway plan together to see if anything needs to be changed or added and we will agree transition targets with you.
Your needs should have been reviewed at least three times at the transition monitoring panel and your age 18 + plan should be in place and, if needed, you will be connected with lifelong links. Every young person will be offered the opportunity to take part in a life skills course.
Before you reach 17 you should have met your personal adviser four times. By this time, we should have a clear plan for where you will live when you turn 18 – your accommodation for when you turn 18 must be in place and approved by the care panel six months in advance.
Care Act assessments will be completed for those who may need to have adult social care support post-18.
The 16+ panel will ensure that you have been listened to and that all necessary activities to support your transition into adulthood have been completed.
The team around the young person will suggest a date for the transition away from children’s services and into the care of adult services.
If you are eligible for a care package from adult services, this will already be in place and ready for you as you transition.
Our Local Offer to Care Leavers outlines all the services and support that are available to young people when they leave care, including information about your legal and financial entitlements and rights.