If you are

• 16 or 17, and you are in care, and
• you have been in care for at least 13 weeks since you turned 14.

you have a right to a 16+ adviser to help you live independently.

I’m eligible – what now?
Ideally you should stay in care until you are 18. Your social worker will be in touch with you as you approach 16, to look at what advice, assistance and support the Council will be providing while they continue to look after you, and who is to be your 16+ Adviser.

Once you have discussed your ideas and wishes with the 16+ Adviser, together you will draw up a plan (called a Pathway Plan) to cover different parts of your life: where you live, your education, training and employment, your health, money and your personal support needs. This plan aims to cover the next five years until your 21st birthday. back to top

What if I move?
You may choose to leave care and move to a new area. That’s fine. All you need do is make sure your 16+ Adviser knows, so that they can make sure you continue to get the support and help needed to match your Pathway Plan. back to top

What if I leave care and decide I want to go back?
You should discuss this with either your social worker or your 16+ Adviser. Your Pathway Plan should cover situations like this, since it will have a section on what to do if things don’t work out. back to top

Support – someone to talk to
You will not be on your own. You will have a 16+ Adviser.

They will help you work out your Pathway Plan. They should:

Provide you with advice and support.
Be involved in understanding your needs and helping prepare your Pathway Plan.
Review your Pathway Plan. Your hopes and ideas might change as you go along, so the Plan should be looked at, at least every six months, to make sure it is still up to date.
Make sure your Pathway Plan is met.
Negotiate for you with the Council to make sure you get the help and support you need, including money.
Keep in touch. Your Adviser should keep in touch with you until you are at least 21. You can discuss how you would like to keep in touch and how much contact suits you.

So… it is very important that the relationship between you has the best chance of being a good one. You will be allocated a 16+ Adviser but if you find you don't get on you will be able to change to another worker. Just ask. back to top

What should my plan include?

EDUCATION, TRAINING & EMPLOYMENT/CAREERS ADVICE
It is not easy to walk into a good job. You might need extra education or training or you might simply not know what you are good at or what you want to do. The Plan will look at helping you with any costs involved. These costs could include:

Transport or fares to get you to and from your school or college
Books and equipment
Extras like field trips
Living expenses
Registration and exam fees
Childcare costs
Tuition fees.

A PLACE TO LIVE
Until you are 18 Social Services must make sure you are in “suitable accommodation”. This is a place to live which is right for you at the time, and is safe and secure. Your views must be taken into account.

Once you are ready to leave care, your 16+ Adviser will help you find somewhere suitable to live, to get ready for living independently and help you with the move including buying the basics you will need. Because this is such a big step for anyone, the 16+ Adviser will be there to help and support you with any problems.

MONEY - FINANCIAL SUPPORT
Under the law Social Services have to make sure you have somewhere to live and enough money to live on. They can do this either by giving you money, or by paying for things for you. The Government says that Social Services should also consider giving you money for:

Travel
Equipment or other things you need for school or college
Costs to do with any special needs you might have (such as a disability or pregnancy)
Childcare
Clothing
Contact with your family or friends
Cultural or religious needs
Counselling
Hobbies and holidays

You will probably not get money for all these things and you may need money for things not on this list. back to top

What if I want something different?
If there is something you would like Social Services to do for you or pay for, it is worth asking your 16+ Adviser. back to top

How will I get my money?
Your 16+ Adviser will help you set up a bank account. They will also explain what to do in an emergency. It may be possible to pay you in cash through an out-of-hours service according to what the problem might be. You would need to contact the Emergency Duty Team (Tel: 01733 234724). back to top

What happens when I am 18
When you are 18, you may still have a 16+ Adviser, and a Pathway Plan, and Social Services must still keep in touch with you, at least until you are 21. Social Services must continue to help you in ways that you and they agree. In particular, they must continue to help you with your education, training and work. This might mean buying books, equipment or clothing, help with fares, field trips, registration and exam fees, childcare costs or tuition fees if you are over 19. This sort of help can last past your becoming 21, if your Pathway Plan says so. back to top

Does this mean that I’ll get help to go to university?
You may be funded through university using the same system of student loans as everyone else. There are some Charitable trusts that can also help care leavers with grants of money to help to get through college – your 16+ Adviser should be able to help you to apply. The local authority must make sure you have somewhere to live in the holidays if you need it. This could mean finding you somewhere to live or paying your rent.*

* This applies to anyone who leaves care after the age of 16 back to top

What about residential further education courses?
Some courses such as art or agriculture may involve living at or near the college. Again, the local authority must make sure you have somewhere to live in the holidays. back to top

What about help with claiming benefits?
Your 16+ Adviser should explain which benefits you might be entitled to as part of preparing you for independence. Or independent welfare rights specialists can help you to claim benefits. back to top

Emergencies
Your 16+ Adviser should help and give advice on what to do in an emergency. If you have an out of hours emergency call the Emergency Duty Team for social care advice or assistance on 01733 234724.

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What happens if I am not happy with how I am being treated?
If you are unhappy or have a complaint of any kind about anything at all, tell your 16+ Adviser about it. Social Services must try to sort out the problem within 14 days. If it's not fixed you can make a formal complaint.

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A list of some organisations who can help is set out below.

What if I’m disabled?
If you are sick or disabled and 16 or over, you will get benefits whether you are living at home or in care. You will still be able to claim benefits to help meet any special needs you might have. This will not include Housing Benefit between the ages of 16 and 18 as your housing costs will be met by the Council. If you are not sure what benefits you can claim, get further advice from your 16+ Adviser. back to top

What if I’m a parent?
If you are a lone parent and 16 or over, you can get some benefits whether you are living at home or in care. You will still be able to claim benefits to help meet any special needs you might have. This will not include Housing Benefit between the ages of 16 and 18 as your housing costs will be met by the Council. If you are not sure what benefits you can claim, get further advice from your 16+ Adviser. back to top

Information on local solicitors or independent advice and law centres with links to the Community Legal Service is available on 0845 608 1122 or you can search www.clsdirect.org.uk

Citizens Advice Bureaux can tell you about national and local schemes for young people. Call 020 7833 2181 for details of your nearest CAB or search www.adviceguide.org.uk.

Youth Access is a national network of local advice and counselling centres working with young people. Tel: 020 8772 9900.

HEALTH
NHS Direct provides a 24 hour nurse-led confidential helpline. Tel: 0845 4647.

Here are some other useful sources of information:

The Who Cares? Linkline offers confidential help and advice to anyone in care at present, or in the past. Freecall 0500 564570 on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays (3.30pm-6.00pm). The Linkline is run by The Who Cares? Trust, which works to improve public care for children and young people. Kemp House, 152-160 City Road, London EC1V 2NP. Tel: 020 7251 3117. E-mail: mailbox@thewhocarestrust.org.uk. Website: http://www.thewhocarestrust.org.uk

Children’s Legal Centre offers free, confidential advice on anything to do with the law. Tel: 01206 873820 Mon-Fri (10.00am-12.30pm and 2.00pm-4.30pm), or write to them at: University of Essex, Wivenhoe Park, Colchester CO4 3SQ.

Children’s Rights Officers and Advocates offer independent advice and support. For details of your nearest service, Suite 5J, North Mill, Bridgefoot, Belper, Derbyshire DE56 1YD
Tel: 01773 820100 Fax: 01773 820300 Email: info@croa.org.uk

National Youth Advocacy Service offers someone who will listen and speak up for young people. Tel: 0151 342 7852 (freephone 0800 616101 – weekdays 3.30pm-5.30pm & weekend 2.00pm-8.00pm) or write to: FREEPOST NYAS, Heswall, Wirall CH60 5RG. www.nyas.net/

Fostering Network (previously known as the National Foster Care Association). Tel: 020 7620 6400. www.fostering.net/

Voice for the Child in Care provides a network of support to young people in care and offers a representative to young people in secure accommodation: Tel: 020 7833 5792 or write to: VCC, Unit 4, Pride Court, 80-83 White Lion Street, London N1 9PF.

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