Care leavers and children in care

This section contains information and advice for young people in Derby who are about to leave or have left our care.

On 1st October 2001 the Children's Leaving Care Act came into effect. This led to changes in services provided to young people leaving public care.

In April 2011, new transition regulations came into force that mean if you are a care leaver, under 25 and you decide to return to education and training, you may be able to receive help from the Leaving Care Team and could be entitled to a personal advisor and a pathway plan.

Does the Leaving Care Act affect you?

The law applies to you if:

• you were in care on 1st October 2001 and,
• your 16th birthday is on or after 1st October 2001, and
• you have been in care for at least 13 weeks since your 14th birthday, and
• you are still looked-after on your 16th birthday.

How do I know if the Leaving Care Act does not apply to me?

The law will not affect all care leavers. You will not be affected if:

• you left care before 1st October 2001
• you are in respite care.

Young people who are not affected by the act will be entitled to a leaving care service under the old law, Section 24 Children's Act 1989. We have a duty to ‘advise, assist and befriend’ until you are 21 years old or 24 years old if you are in higher education. We also now have to assess your needs if you return to education or training after leaving care and before you reach the age of 25.

The aim of the act is to:

Delay young people from moving from care until they are ready, to improve the assessment, preparation and planning for leaving care, provide better personal support for young people and improve the financial arrangements for care leavers.

More information is available from the Leaving Care Team.

Changes in Derby

In 2001, the Derby Leaving and Aftercare Team was created and called Aspire. Young People in Derby will now be allocated a Personal Adviser from the Leaving Care Team at the age of 16. The Personal Adviser will be remain allocated to you until you reach 21. Should you remain in Training or Education or return to Training or Education you will also retain or be allocated a Personal Adviser until you reach 25 years of age. For further information, please contact the Leaving Care Team.