Leaving care guide

If you are still in care or left care after April 1 2004, then the Leaving Care Act 2000 affects you.

The Act aims to improve your future when you leave care by:

• Delaying your discharge from care until you feel you are prepared and ready
• Providing better personal support
• Providing better financial support.

Who qualifies for help?

This maps out your future on paper to ensure you get the support you need and it should be started before your 16th birthday. Your plan will be updated at least every six months, or more often if you want. You will be consulted about everything it contains and it is your decision as to who gets a copy.

The plan covers the following areas:

• Personal support
• Accommodation
• Education and training
• Employment
• Family and social relationships
• Practical and other skills
• Financial support
• A contingency plan in case things go wrong or if you change your mind.

Your Throughcare Worker will negotiate on your behalf and make sure your needs assessment and pathway plan are written and reviewed. Your pathway plan should be realistic and able to meet your assessed needs. Your Throughcare Worker, your Social Worker and you will decide who does what and when, and make sure your plan is prepared. 

Your Throughcare Worker must make sure your pathway plan is reviewed at least every six months and that any changes are recorded. When you leave care, your Throughcare Worker will take responsibility for passing your new pathway plan (or the part they can help with) on to the agencies supporting you.

Your Throughcare Worker will make sure that you get the support that you need from the people and agencies that help you. They will also help you take the steps needed to get where you want to be. They will arrange a review of your pathway plan if your circumstances change.

Several people will play an important part in helping you prepare to leave care: your Throughcare Worker, your Key Worker, your Social Worker, your independent visitor and your (careers) advisor. The following information describes what they can do.

You will be allocated a Throughcare Worker who will provide you with information about the range of assessments that are undertaken, how long these will take and why we review your pathway plan when you are 18 and over.

It is their duty and responsibility to give you information, educate you towards your independence and keep in contact with you and give you details of who to contact when they are not in the office.

Every young person will have a Throughcare Worker who is a member of the Throughcare Team. The Children’s Leaving Care Guidance 2004 says that the appointment of a Throughcare worker is a ‘statutory requirement’ which means that the law requires all young people leaving care to have someone to help them. 

The job of your Throughcare Worker is to:

If you are living in a children’s unit then you will have a Key Worker. This person will work with you and anyone who is involved with you to make sure the time you spend in care is as worthwhile as possible. When you leave care you can still have contact with your Key Worker if you wish - please ask your Social Worker to arrange for this to be in your pathway plan.

When you are in care, you may have an independent visitor. This person is a volunteer who is not employed by Social Services. Their role is to visit, befriend, advise you and to make sure you are being looked after properly. The independent visitor will still visit you when you leave care if you want them to.

You will also have the option of having a ‘supporter’ chosen by you. This should be someone you trust and have confidence in. This person can be at all of your meetings and can appeal any decisions on your behalf. Your personal advisor will help you with this and give you any advice if you wish.

Your Careers Advisor will help you with the employment, education and training section of your pathway plan. The Throughcare Team has a close link with Careers Scotland. They will help you make an informed choice about your career, give you guidance in making your choices and provide independent advice to help you meet your short and long-term goals.

At some stage before you leave care we will talk to Careers Scotland and they will appoint an advisor to you. This person will help you make decisions about your future education or employment.

Before you leave care, Social Services must make sure you are prepared and ready to live by yourself. Your Carer, Throughcare Worker or your Key Worker should help you identify what skills you need and then help you learn and practise them so you are ready for independence.

There is plenty of time so you don’t need to learn everything at once. The Throughcare Team will run a course called Independent Living Skills Training that can help you. You could move into some independent and semi-independent living schemes. Your Throughcare Worker will have more information on these.

This section gives information on the help you are entitled to when you leave care.

If you are under 18 and have left care, Social Services must provide you with suitable accommodation, which takes into account your needs and wishes. You should have a choice of about where you live and it should be safe and affordable. Social Services must do a check on the landlord/landlady before you move into the accommodation to make sure they are suitable. Social Services must also pay your rent.

Details on the rates of rent for accommodation will be explained to you in another booklet. Alternatively, you can ask your Throughcare Worker if you are unsure of the figures.

• Staying in care - either foster care, children’s home or some other sort of care if this is thought to be in your best interest
• Stay with your foster carers by changing your placement into a supported lodgings placement
• Supported lodgings, with supported carer (someone’s house)
• Accommodation with support so you can learn the skills needed to live independently when you are ready (hostel type of thing)
• Specialist accommodation for young people with particular support needs, such as pregnant young women or single parents
• Your own flat or house with support from the Throughcare Team
• Your own tenancy.

Not all these types of accommodation are yet available in East Dunbartonshire, but most are and your Throughcare Worker will discuss with you the options available.

Remember - it is important you know all the options so you can base your decisions on what you think will meet your needs. Talk to your Throughcare Worker and plan ahead.

This section gives information on the help you are entitled to when you leave care.

If you are in education or training, Social Services are required to offer you money for the following:

• Protective clothing/equipment
• Educational textbooks/equipment
• Travel costs.

Social Services must also make sure you have access to a computer so you can complete your work. If you are in higher education you are entitled to vacation accommodation and support. Your Throughcare Worker must ensure your needs are met and this must be part of your needs assessment and pathway plan. Your Throughcare Worker will make sure that your personal education plan/career plan and pathway plan include your goals and how to achieve them. You can also ask for help from your Careers Advisor.

This section gives information on the help you are entitled to when you leave care.

If you are a ‘compulsorily supported young person’ (see description on page 1) you are entitled to the following help:

• Leaving care grant (this is called Section 29)
• Setting up home starter pack (this is also Section 29)
• Your rent to be paid by Social Services (this amount should be the same as or more than housing benefit) but we need to keep in mind that you will return to the Housing department for benefit when you are 18
• Living allowance (this must be no less than the level you would receive if you claimed benefits from the DWP)
• Incentives for attending training, education or work. You’re Throughcare Worker will explain this to you in detail.

Social Services must also “consider” helping you with:

• Travel costs (i.e. for education)
• Materials/special equipment for education or training
• Any other costs with education or training
• Costs associated with pregnancy
• Childcare
• Clothing
• Counselling/therapeutic costs
• Contact with family or close friends
• Cultural needs
• Holidays and hobbies.

This does not mean you will get all the things you want from this list. However, we will do our best to help in whatever way we can.

When you reach 18 you are a ‘prospective supported young person’ (see page 2). This means that Social Services will no longer give you a living allowance or pay your rent. This means you must now claim benefits, student loans or get a job. You are entitled to the following financial support:

• Help with educational, training or employment costs
• If you are doing a residential education course then you are entitled to accommodation in the holidays.

The above also applies to ‘discretionary supported young people’ (see above)

You’re Throughcare Worker will help you get all the benefits you are entitled to. Help is also available from your local Citizens’ Advice Bureau. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) which used to be known as the DSS administers all benefits. If you are aged between 16 and 18, Social Services are responsible for assisting you financially.

Your Throughcare Worker will help you manage the money you receive. If you want to know what you are entitled to as a minimum amount and what you can receive as incentives, your Throughcare Worker will give you a written breakdown - it is your right under the Children (Leaving Care) Act to receive this information. If you have a disagreement with your Throughcare Worker about money matters, you should ask to speak to the Throughcare Team Manager. If you are still not happy then you can make an appeal (see  complaints below).

When you leave care part of your financial assessment will include money for clothes.
Please discuss your entitlement with your Throughcare Worker. You can get extra support for any special clothes or uniform you need for work, education, or training course. If you are pregnant or have had a baby you are entitled to money for clothes.

Who Cares is an independent service for children and young people in care and leaving care. It is based in Glasgow and was set up to represent your views, to help you meet with young people in other local authorities and to increase the understanding the general public have of young people in care.

It holds events, puts people in touch with each other and runs regional forums for young people. A group of young people from all over the country are in charge of what the organisation does. For more information, contact them at this address:

Who Cares Scotland,
5 Oswald Street,
Glasgow,
G1 4QR
Tel: 0141 226 4441
Email:enquiries@whocaresscotland.org

Health is about how you feel, how fit you are, how much energy you have and includes mental health, physical health, sexual health and contraception, diet and consumption of poisons like drugs, cigarettes and alcohol.

If you are worried about any sort of health problem then you should speak to someone about it, even if you feel embarrassed at first.

It is important that you are registered with a doctor. To find your nearest surgery look in the phone book or ring the NHS Helpline 111 or log on to the NHS website.

Your personal advisor can help you with this.

Your medical card is very important as it has your doctor’s details, your date of birth and your NHS (National Health Service) number on it. You should receive this card when you turn 16.

Only take medicine if your doctor has prescribed it - do not take anyone else’s as you could do yourself harm. If you are unsure, talk to your doctor or nurse before taking medicine. Advice is also on hand from your local chemist.

Drugs and alcohol can be addictive and dangerous. It is an offence to purchase alcohol under the age of 18. Underage drinking in pubs and clubs is an offence in Britain. If there is someone you trust who is close to you it would be a good idea if you talk to him or her.

If you need information or help, or you just want to talk to someone, here are some useful contacts:

• National Drugs Helpline: 0800 776 600
  Talk to FRANK
• Alcoholics Anonymous
• National Alcohol Helpline: 0845 769 7555.

There’s a lot of information about HIV, AIDS and sexual health around now, you can collect leaflets from your doctors or access the National Aids Trust website. 

It’s important that you respect and protect yourself and learn how to avoid contracting the HIV virus or sexually transmitted infections.

It is very important to take care of your teeth and mouth and a lot of dental treatment is free. All young people while in care must be registered with a dentist. Look in the phone book for a dentist near you.

Too much dieting can be bad for your health. If you would like more information or advice on eating healthily, leaflets are available from most supermarkets and doctors surgeries. If you would like confidential information, ask your doctor. If you think you have an eating disorder, there are many organisations that can help you.

It is very important that you are safe and not being harmed in any way. No-one should have to put up with verbal or physical violence. If you need help getting away from someone who is being violent speak to your Throughcare Worker or you can contact one of these organisations:

Women’s Aid National Domestic Violence Helpline: 08457 023 468 and website.

Being in care may have been a positive or negative experience or a mixture of both. If you want to talk to someone about your experiences, the following services offer help:

Childline: 0800 1111
Website: www.childline.org.uk

Who Cares Scotland: 020 7251 3117
Website: www.whocaresscotland.org

If you think you may be pregnant and need advice or a pregnancy test, you can contact the Throughcare Team on 0141 578 8855 and speak to a worker for advice.

If you are pregnant or have a young child, you are entitled to benefits but Social Services will pay your rent if you are still under 18. Your needs must be assessed and written into your pathway plan.

Advice and support is available from your Throughcare Worker or the Throughcare Team to help you contact a health advisor who will help you receive prenatal and postnatal care. If you are a young parent and want to return to education, training or employment, they can also help you look at opportunities and childcare.

If you want to breast-feed your baby, your midwife and health visitor will help and support you. Advice on eating healthily to breast-feed your baby is available from Breast-feeding Counsellors. Contact your Throughcare Worker or Social Worker.

If you need to arrange childcare so you can go to college or work please ask for a list of nurseries and registered childminders in your area. You should speak to the Lone Parent Advisor at the Jobcentre, your personal advisor or your Careers advisor.

If you have had a baby placed for adoption, the After Adoption Service can help you with advice and counselling. Contact your Throughcare Worker or Social Worker. 

If you are caring for family members or a close friend, you may entitled to additional benefits. For more information please contact your Throughcare Worker who will try to advise you and put you in contact with Benefits Advice. The Throughcare Team can be contacted on 0141 578 8855.

When you move into your own accommodation, you will have to take on some new responsibilities. You will receive help and support from the Throughcare Team with these.

When you leave care, you should receive a leaving care grant and a setting up home kit. Ask your Social Worker or your Throughcare Worker what you are entitled to.

One of the best ways to start to feel at home is to have a say in how the flat/house is decorated. It is possible to get some help in buying the things you need from Social Services. There may be some courses running at your local college if you want to learn more - if you want to be the next star of Changing Rooms it is important to make sure you know what you are doing.

Speak to your Throughcare Worker for advice and support on how to best furnish your home. They can provide guidance and handouts on the cost of furnishing your home/tenancy to make it more comfortable.

When you move into your accommodation, you will have to find out who supplies your electricity and gas and you may even have to arrange to get it turned on.

The name of your supplier could be on the meter, if not then contact your personal advisor or landlord for help with this. In most cases, you can choose your supplier to try to get the best deal.

When you move into your own accommodation it is important to get some household insurance just in case something happens to your personal belongings i.e. theft or damage. You should speak to your Throughcare Worker for more advice.

Your accommodation may have a garden and you need to tidy it up. If you do not have the money to buy the tools needed, you may be able to rent the equipment needed or borrow it from the Throughcare Team -your Throughcare Worker may be able to tell you more.

If you are living in rented accommodation your landlord or landlady will also have some responsibilities for the upkeep of the garden as well - read the tenancy agreement before you take on the property.

If you want to move away, you must inform your Throughcare Worker so that you will still receive help from the Throughcare Team in the new area. The Throughcare Team here will continue to keep in touch with you until you are 19 and will continue to pay your benefits until you are 18.

Learning to manage your money will help you become more independent and be in control. Here is a weekly budget planner that you can use:

Budget Planner per Week

Health £ 
Education £ 
Support/contact with £ 
Care £ 
Cultural £
Council £ 
House £ 
Gas and Electric £ 
Cleaning £
T.V. licence £ 
Sports/clubs £ 
Cigarettes £ 
Credit payments £ .
Total £ 

Do you have a bank account?
What is your total weekly income?
Are you having any money problems?
Are you in debt?

Do you have savings?
Do you have any other concerns or issues to do with money?
Do you want any more help advice about money?
Does your Throughcare worker have the details of your account?
Where you can be paid?

Discuss your budgeting skills with your Throughcare Worker; this will be part of your needs assessment and pathway planning. Your Throughcare worker will give you advice and support when you live independently.

For more information and advice and help with budgeting please see the Financial support section.

It’s very easy to get in to money troubles especially when you are on a tight budget and this can cause a lot of stress. If this happens to you, talk to someone before it gets too bad.

You can contact your local Citizens’ Advice Bureau and ask them for advice and help. Other helpful numbers/contacts are:

National Debt Line: 0121 359 8501
Gamblers Anonymous: 0114 262 0026
Consumer Credit Counselling Service: 0800 138 1111

If you are in full or part-time education you can get a student card that will give discounts on many different things e.g. clothes, cheaper entry into nightclubs etc.

If you have been the victim of a criminal offence you may be entitled to, or already have, a Criminal Injuries Compensation Award (CICA). Ask your Throughcare Worker for advice. You can see a solicitor and your first meeting with them will be free.

Ask if you are entitled to legal aid if you need to pursue a criminal injuries claim. If you have received any compensation money of any kind this could be taken in to consideration if you are claiming benefits. Take independent advice from an advisor who can help you take good care of your money.

You may have brothers, sisters, family members and close friends you want to have contact with.

Transport costs and support to visit your family will be written into your needs assessment and pathway plan. If having contact with someone is making you unhappy, talk to your Throughcare Worker.

If you are under 16 you may not be allowed to have contact with a person if this puts you in danger. More advice and support is available
from the Throughcare Team

It is important that you keep in contact with the people that care about you and that you care about. They can give you the emotional support you need. If you feel you want to speak to people you do not know, there are groups where you can go to - just ask your Throughcare Worker.

In a crisis you can also contact the Samaritans on: 08457 909090. If you need to talk to someone in an emergency the Samaritans are open for calls 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can also log on to the Samaritans website.

Your Throughcare Worker will want to keep in touch with you until you are 21 and this contact should be at least once every six months, but more often if wanted or needed. The contact must last for longer if you are on an agreed course of education or training.

If you belong to a religion it is your right to have your beliefs respected by the people around you. You are entitled to get help and encourage­ment to practise your religion and to maintain it.

You have the right to be respected by the people around you, but you must also respect them, as respect is a two-way thing. If you feel that no one is respecting you and your choices and decisions, then speak to your Throughcare Worker or Who Cares Scotland, Tel: 0141 226 4441 Email:enquiries@whocaresscotland.org.

No-one has the right to treat you differently or badly for any of the following reasons:

• Colour of skin or country you come from
• Religion
• Sexuality (lesbian/gay)
• Female/male
• HIV
• Disability.

This means that no-one should call you names or bully you. If this is happening you should ell someone like your Social Worker, Personal Advisor, Carer or you’re Who Cares Scotland representative. 

Racism is when you are treated badly or differently because of your race. You have the right to be respected and to be treated the same as everyone else.

You should not have to put up with jokes or comments about your race and if this is happening to you then speak to your Personal Advisor, Social Worker or Who Cares Scotland representative.

Don’t forget that making the most of your free time and improving your social life can also make a big difference to your health, happiness, confidence and even your career. If you have a particular sport or leisure activity that you really enjoy, talk to your personal advisor to see if they can help you to continue. If not, there are some schemes that you can join such as youth clubs that organise different leisure activities. For other activities, please contact:

Princes Trust National: 0800 842842

Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme

You can also find out about clubs and other leisure activities in your area by searching on the Internet or by looking in the local newspapers and Thomson Directory.

We all from time-to-time feel like just getting away from it all and going on holiday. To be able to travel abroad you must have a passport and forms are available from the post office. If you are under 18 you need parental permission and you must talk to your personal advisor about who should sign the application form. You will also need a copy of your birth certificate to send off with the passport application. If you
want to travel then speak to your Throughcare Worker about different ways you could do this.
It can take time to save up and organise things needed but it is also possible to work abroad and pay for travel that way. Here are some
organisations to help you with this:

Raleigh International: 020 737 18585 

Voluntary Service Overseas:

Camp America: 020 7581 7333

Youth hostels can be a great, cheap way to have a holiday in the UK. The Youth Hostel Association website is www.yha.org.uk

If you are not happy you can make an informal complaint. This can be made to your Throughcare Worker and they will talk to the manager. If you are still unhappy we can refer you to the Citizens’ Advice Bureau who will listen to your complaint and respond to you and the Throughcare Team within 14 days.

If it is not sorted out by then you can make a formal complaint. You have a right to receive a written summary of your complaint and Social Services must try to settle the complaint within 14 days. The Social Services complaints officer must be informed.

You can make a complaint by contacting Social Work HQ - they will then send out the appropriate forms to you.

Telephone 0141 775 9000.

You have the right to see what has been written about you. When you are 18 you can ask to see your Social Services file - your Throughcare Worker will help you make a written request to do this.

Please note that you will not be able to see anything written about you by third parties.
A leaflet called ‘Access to Files’ is available from your Throughcare Worker or Social Worker.

Even if you do not have any qualifications it is never too late to start. You may need to train for your chosen career but there is a lot of help available from the Careers Service, Jobcentre Plus and from your Throughcare Worker. Your education, training and employment needs are a very important part of your future.

A job is worth more than just money. It can help you meet new friends and find new opportunities for social and leisure activities.
Good employers may pay you to do further training and promotion opportunities. Some companies offer staff discounts, pension
schemes and paid holidays.

If you are looking for work then your local Jobcentre is the place to go as more-or-less every job vacancy in your area will be advertised
there. Experienced staff can help and advise you. Please contact them (Mon to Fri 8.30am to 6pm).There is a text phone for deaf and hearing  impaired people and jobs are also advertised in the local and national newspapers.

Useful web sites are:

Fish4jobs

total jobs

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Children was started by the UN General Assembly in 1989. It provides detailed minimum standards for all of the world’s two billion children and young people and gives children and young people many different rights.
If you would like to know more please ask your Throughcare Worker, Carer, Key Worker or Social Worker. A copy of the Convention is available from the Throughcare Team.

Everyone is entitled to be safe, happy and have a good quality of life. This may not happen overnight, but getting the right support at the right time will help you achieve your aims.

If you have any questions you would like answered please feel free to contact the Throughcare Team on 0141 775 0362.
One of the staff there will try to answer any queries you may have.

We hope to have a website up and running in the near future which will have up-to-date information available to you.

If you have been looked after or accommodated (been in care) by East Dunbartonshire Council after your 16th birthday, you are entitled to the following:

1. The Right to be treated with courtesy and respect by staff
2. The Right to receive an answer to any request you make for a service within five working days (faster in an emergency)
3. The Right to be consulted and fully involved in decisions made about any service you may request or receive
4. The Right to have your views recorded and for you to be able to see, and have copies of, relevant information kept about you in files or on computer
5. The Right to confidentiality and to have all personal information protected
6. The Right to receive a service which respects your race, religion, culture, language, gender, sexuality and abilities
7. The Right to receive support and preparation for leaving care while still in care
8. The Right to full and accurate information about any preparation for leaving care or any other services that are available
9. The Right to your birth certificate, or a copy, when you leave care
10. The Right to know how, where and from whom, you can get help from Social Work after you have left care
11. The Right to help finding a place of your own to live after you have left care
12. The Right to suitable luggage for your belongings when you move on from care
13. The Right to make a complaint or comment about any Throughcare service or any other service provided by the department
14. The Right to receive help from the Throughcare service at least until your 19th birthday or even 24 if you are in full time education, even if you live away from East Dunbartonshire
15. The Right, if you are receiving regular help from the Social Work department, to a written pathway plan which will look at what you want for your future and how we can help you achieve this
16. Help in finding accommodation during the holiday period if you are involved in full time education
17. You have the Right for us to maintain contact with you while you are a care leaver.

If you have been looked after for more than 13 weeks since your 14th birthday and were still looked after when you were 16, you are also entitled to the following:

1. The Right to ask for financial assistance to help you get accommodation, to meet expenses connected with employment or training, to help you keep in contact with your family or previous carers and for emergencies. This will be carefully thought out about before a decision is made
2. The Right to ask for financial assistance in order to help you meet expenses connected with education until your 24th birthday. (This may include rent and living expenses if you are not able to claim benefits). This will be carefully thought about before a decision is made
3. The Right to financial support with rent and living expenses for young people aged 16-18 who cannot claim benefits because they are care leavers
4. The Right to a named Throughcare Worker
5. The Right to a written Pathway Plan that is reviewed regularly that will explain what will happen and what will be provided for you when you leave our care
6. The Right to ask for an Independent Leaving Care Grant to help you meet the costs of setting up your own home. This will be carefully thought about before a decision is made.