What is a Pathway Plan?

The law refers to Pathway Plans for Care Leavers.

A Pathway Plan has two parts: assessment and planning.

The idea is that with your Social Worker and/or Personal Advisor, you work out what needs you have for the next stage of your life, particularly recognising this time of transition into adulthood, and you work out who might do what to help meet these needs.

As a child in care, you are able to have a Pathway Plan from the age of 16. You must have a Pathway Plan if you are a:

• 'Relevant Care Leaver' aged 16/17 or;
• 'Former Relevant Care Leaver' aged 18-20

You may have a pathway plan if you are a 'Qualifying Care Leaver' or if you are a 'Former Relevant Care Leaver' aged 21- 25. Please ask if you are unsure. 

Topics covered

Going through the topics of the Pathway Plan is a good way to review your needs and to have a record of places you may want to access for support, financial entitlements, and what to expect from those available to support you.

It is also helpful to record if you do have a need but can’t identify where the right help may come from. This means that we can try to look into improving services for you and for others.

The topics covered in Pathway Planning are:

• health
• education, employment and/or training
• identity
• emotional and behavioural development
• accommodation
• family and social relationships
• finances

But you can make use of it for whatever is important for you.