Specific circumstances for Care Leavers

From 16 - 18

A key part of your pathway plan will be ensuring that the support you can receive as an adult is clearly planned. This is assessed by a worker from Adult Social Care, which is called a Care Act Assessment.

If you have a social worker within our Children’s Transitions Team, they will be working with you, your family and carers, to prepare you for the support you will need post 18, as an adult. The assessment they complete includes consideration of Care Act eligible needs you might have. They will refer to the Adult’s Transitions Team for the Care Act Assessment, the team who are likely to support you post 18.

If you have a social worker within another team, they will consider making a referral for a Care Act Assessment. This can be completed by the Adults Transitions Team or by a worker within the Adult’s Mental Health Team. If it is unclear which team would be the best to support you, or if you may not need or want Adult Social care support but do want health or other adult services’ support, then your social worker will refer you to Directions Panel. This is a multi-agency panel that considers the best sources of support or assessment for you as you move into adulthood and directs appropriate referrals or responses.

If you are eligible for Adult Social Care support after 18

If you are eligible for support post 18 from Adult Social Care, they will take the lead on planning with and for you going forward. If the plan is for you to move to supported accommodation, they will take the lead, with you, in arranging the best provision for your care and support.

If you are in foster care and want to continue living with your carers post 18, and you are eligible for accommodation support from Adult Social Care, an Adult Social Care worker will talk to your carers about the possibility of them becoming Shared Lives Carers, which is like them being foster carers, but for adults.

You will have an allocated Personal Adviser up until at least your 21st birthday, or your 25th birthday should you need or want it.

Later requests for Adult Social Care support

If needs arise for you post 18, such that you would now like support from Adult Social Care, a referral can be made for a Care Act Assessment. This can be made at any time. Referrals can be made by you or by someone who supports you.