Our support for you as a care leaver

To be a care leaver, you must have been in care for:

• at least 13 weeks between the ages of 14 and 16 (including your 16th birthday)
• 13 weeks after your 16th birthday

Your social worker or personal advisor can help you understand whether you qualify for support and what level of support you're entitled to.

You can also take the online quiz on the Coram Voice website to understand your care leaver status.

For care leavers aged between 16 to 17 years old, we will give you accommodation and a social worker.

For care leavers aged between 18 to 20 years old, we will work with you to develop a pathway plan for your support.

For care leavers aged between 21 to 25, we will still offer you support and keep in touch with you, but you may decide you want to be more independent. You can find out more information on our Support after 21 page.

You have rights when you leave care. These include:

• the right to a personal advisor
• the right to a suitable place to live
• the right to a good education
• the right to be heard and involved in all decisions about your care
• the right to view all information about you and your care
• the right to financial support
• the right to an independent advocate

Your pathway plan sets out your needs and future goals. It tells you exactly what support you will receive from us to help you achieve these.

You will be involved in creating your first pathway plan before you turn 16. Making your plan will also involve discussions with important people in your life.

We will review your plan with you every six months.

A pathway plan will include:

• your living and accommodation needs
• your education, employment and training needs
• any physical or emotional health needs you have
• your financial needs
• what you need to develop independence skills, healthy relationships, and a good support network

Your social worker or personal advisor will talk about what extra support you may need. You might need extra support because:

• you have special educational needs or a disability
• you are seeking asylum and your immigration status is unclear
• you are in or leaving custody or you have had contact with the criminal justice system
• you are a young parent
• you are going through a difficult time in your personal life

Your personal advisor will build a relationship with you and anybody you identify as important to you. They will advise, support, challenge and guide you to be the best person that you can possibly be. They will look out for you and advocate for you. They will also step in if you are in trouble or difficulty. You may not always agree with them but they will always work with you to ensure that you are safe and supported.

You can have a personal advisor until you are 25. When you turn 21, you can choose to opt out of our support but you can opt back in at any time until you are 25. You can find out more information on the support we offer when you turn 21 on our Support after 21 page.

We will support you with money for a range of things like your:

• education
• housing and moving costs
• health
• pregnancy
• bills and council tax
• driving lessons
• identification documents (ID)
• discounted travel

Most of this support is available to you until you turn 21 years old. From there, we will help you with supporting yourself financially by accessing work, grants, benefits, and other financial support you are entitled to.

There is also support offered in the 21 to 25 years old range. We will talk about what your financial needs will be to help you achieve your goals and any financial support packages will be clearly laid out in your pathway plan.

You can find out more information on our Managing your money page.