The support we give you when you leave care

As your corporate parent we want the very best for you. This means working hard to support you when you leave care and after.

Our legal duty to you

By law, we must give you information about services that support your:

• health and physical wellbeing
• emotional wellbeing
• relationships
• education and training 
• search for work
• search for a home 
• participation in society 

You will find it all this information in the pages of this website. 

We also have a number of duties as your corporate parent. We must:

• act in your best interests
• promote your physical and mental health and wellbeing
• encourage you to express your views, wishes and feelings and listen to them
• help you access and make the best use of services provided by the council and our partners
• seek to secure the best outcomes for you and encourage you to have high aspirations
• work to make sure you have a safe, stable home life, relationships, education or work
• help prepare you for adulthood and independent living

Do you qualify for support?

You qualify for all the support given by the Liverpool leaving care team if you are:

• an 'eligible' young person aged 16 or 17 still in care, and have been looked after for at least 13 weeks since your 14th birthday.
• a 'relevant' young person aged 16 or 17 looked after for least 13 weeks between 14 and 16 and now left care. A stay in hospital, in remand, a young offenders' setting or secure training centre after the age of 16 will not stop you being a 'relevant' young person. However, if you have lived successfully with a parent for six or more months since leaving care, you do not qualify under this criteria.
• a 'former relevant' young person aged 18 to 25 who has met the 'eligible' or 'relevant' criteria above in the past.
• a 'qualifying young person under the age of 25' who left care or private foster care at 16. This includes young people with a special guardianship order.

What support do we offer?

If you are an ‘eligible’, ‘relevant’ or ‘former relevant’ care leaver, you will get:

• a personal adviser (PA)
• a Pathway Plan that is updated regularly
• contact with your social worker or PA at least every 8 weeks
• help with finding suitable accommodation
• support with your education, training and employment

If you are a ‘qualifying’ care leaver we will assess your needs. Depending on that need, we may complete a Pathway Plan and allocate a PA to support you. 

What will my PA do?

When you are 16 and 17 years old, you will have a social worker but we will also introduce you to a PA. It is important to build a relationship with them as they will take over as your key worker when you turn 18.

Your PA will: 

• visit you regularly and keep in touch with you by phone or messaging
• prepare a Pathway Plan that confirms the support you need and who will provide it
• help you find and maintain suitable accommodation
• help you access education, training or employment
• help you access any financial allowances or payments you are entitled to
• give you advice and guidance about being healthy and signpost you to other services that you need
• attend meetings or appointments with you when you need support

What is a Pathway Plan? 

A Pathway Plan is a formal document that details your needs, views and future ambitions.

The plan states exactly what support you will get and the steps you need to take to achieve your goals, along with timescales. Your social worker starts the Pathway Plan before you turn 18, and after 18 your PA will update it with you.