We offer support to care-experienced young people through our leaving care team.
The leaving care team has a duty to adequately prepare young people to live independently.
The team works with 18 to 21-year-old care-experienced young people (or up to 25 if in higher education) who require support through exiting the care system and transition to adult services.
Our support is backed by our pledge to children looked after and care-experienced young people (PDF).
Support you can get
You can get support and guidance with:
- your money and documents
- where you live
- your safety
- getting your voice heard
- your health
- your education
Who can get support
Children and young people born in the UK and unaccompanied asylum-seeking children who either:
- are in care
- have been in care
- are leaving care
All care leavers receive a needs assessment and pathway plan. This records the young person's ambitions and identifies the goals they can achieve.
Contact
You can contact the leaving care team duty number:
- by phone: 020 8583 4580
For emergencies outside office hours: Out of hours emergencies
Local offer to care-experienced young people
Our local offer to care-experienced young people is where you'll find information to support care leavers aged 18 to 25 who are in the council's care. It is a clear and comprehensive guide to what services and support are available.
What is in the offer
Local authorities have a legal duty to support young people making the transition from care to adulthood. It is our responsibility to make sure care-experienced young people know what services are available to them, and what they can expect to receive, when in our care.
It aims to clearly set out in one document what care-experienced young people are entitled to and what we expect from them. It will help care-experienced young people make the most out of services available to them and provide support with the transition to adulthood and independence.
We consulted with a group of care-experienced young people who gave their views and opinions on the layout and content of the offer.
You will find information on the following in the offer:
- your money and documents
- where you live
- your safety
- getting your voice heard
- your health
- your education, employment and training
