Leaving Care

Useful links

Introduction

The Pathway team

Pathway plans

Accommodation

Education and training

Service user involvement

Introduction

If you are looked after by the East Riding of Yorkshire Council, you have an allocated social worker from one of the childcare teams. When you are coming up to your sixteenth birthday, you will start to receive your support from the Pathway team instead. These pages give you a summary of the support you are entitled to as you start to prepare for independent living.

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The Pathway team

The Pathway team provides support and assistance to all Looked After young people and care leavers from the age of 16 onwards. The team will support you until at least the age of 21 (and up to 24 if you are still in education at the age of 21). The local authority has a legal duty to provide support as described in the Children (Leaving Care) Act 2000.

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The aim of the service is to make sure you have all the support you need to prepare for independent living, and that this doesn't happen until you are ready to move on. (This usually happens after the age of 18). The team helps you with your plans for education and training, accommodation and support, finances, contact with family and carers, and all other aspects of independent living skills.

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Pathway plans

All looked after young people from the age of 16 will have what is called a 'Pathway plan'. This details what support you will receive and who from, what finances are available and how you will receive them. The plan is drawn up and agreed with you, and its purpose is to make it clear what help you will get and how.

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Accommodation

Some young people may wish to remain with their foster carers after they reach the age of 18 - and this is then 'converted' into a supported lodgings arrangement. Others may move into their own rented flat - either with the Council, or private. Some young people access other supported living arrangements (such as supported lodgings placements, or semi-independent hostels etc.) All options are discussed in advance with the young person and their carers, and plans drawn up.

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Education and training

The Pathway team aims to help all looked after young people reach their goals and aspirations. It is seen as a priority that you are given every chance to access further / higher education and training - including opportunities for training and employment within the local authority.

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Service user involvement

The Pathway team has an active Focus group - run by and for young people . This group is consulted on service development, runs regular groups and activities for young people, and offers us useful feedback on how we are doing. We put a strong emphasis on young people being fully involved in our work, and we are always looking to improve this aspect of what we do.

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