Types of care leavers
The support you are entitled to is outlined in the Children (Leaving Care) Act 2000 and the Children and Social Work Act 2017. What you will get will depend on how long you have been in care and how old you are and the support may include help with housing, education and training.
Who can we help?
The Leaving Care Act defines the categories of care leavers as eligible, relevant, former relevant and qualifying.
- Eligible Child – A child aged 16 and 17 who have been looked after for at least 13 weeks since the age of 14 and who are still looked after.
- Relevant Child – A child aged 16 and 17 who have been looked after for at least 13 weeks since the age of 14 and who have left care. This also includes young people who were detained (e.g. in a youth offending institution or hospital) when they turned 16 but immediately before that were looked after.
- Former Relevant Child – A young person over 18 who was previously ‘eligible’ or ‘relevant’. Local authorities now support this group up to 25 Years of age.
The support offered to care leavers who do not meet the requirements of the above may be eligible for a service as a ‘qualifying child’
- Qualifying Child – Any young person under 25 who ceased to be looked after or accommodated in a variety of other settings, or was privately fostered, after the age of 16. This also includes young people who are under special guardianship orders.
If you feel that you are a ‘qualifying’ young person and feel that you are entitled to an assessment then in the first instance please contact the Leaving Care team on 01332 643907.