How long will I get support for?

We will provide you with support until you’re 21.

Once you’ve left care, we must:

• keep your pathway plan under regular review
• maintain your access to your leaving care coach
• provide financial support to help with work, training, or education expenses, depending on your assessed needs
• give you access to any files of information about you

The support you get as a care leaver depends on your age and your circumstances.  We’ll give you support until you are 21. Under law, you can also ask us to assess your needs up until your 25th birthday.

Once you've asked for your case to be reopened. you can get support from us for education or training. We should carry out your assessment within three months of you asking for support. You may get more support while you’re on your course, including:

• a leaving care coach 
• a pathway plan
• help, if your education or training needs require it
• financial help, depending on the course and money you already have

Our responsibilities are set out in this guidance and regulations: Planning Transitions to Adulthood for Care Leavers (PDF)

A social worker or leaving care coach can help you to understand these responsibilities and the support you can receive.

These organisations can give you advice about your rights as a care leaver:

• Children's Commissioner - get confidential advice and information and any questions you have answered.
• Coram Voice – advice and support about your rights and getting the support you’re entitled to.
• Shelter - information and housing support for care leavers.
• Rees Care Leavers Foundation - support if you've been in foster care or residential care.
• Become Charity - improving the everyday lives and future life chances of children in care and young care leavers.