Preparing for Independence

This happens in lots of different ways at home and in school from learning to manage time, routines at home such as keeping your place tidy, to skills you need for later in life such as navigating social situations or knowing which is the best electric tariff for your household needs.

Wherever you live, we all have corporate parenting responsibilities to help get you ready. This might be through independent living skills programmes, or just day to day help and support which we can capture in your Pathway Plan.

We will invite you to Smooth It Out Group; now in its 20^th year the group is facilitated by both Social Workers and Personal Advisers in Children in Care and Leaving Care and open to young people aged 15 ½ to 21 years and are either looked after or with care leaver eligibility.

The group promotes independent living skills, social skills in working together in a group setting including a focus on budgeting, what it means to manage a tenancy and the practical and social skills that support successful transitions to adult life and responsibility. We focus on what it means to be empowered, making informed and good decisions around leaving care and living independently.

• The Stepladder of Achievement Programme, which ‘provides both life skills and financial resources in order to enhance the capability and prospects of children and young people in care, who are likely to have experienced an unpredictable education.’

Next steps and turning 21

As you approach your 21^st birthday, your personal adviser will talk to you about whether you feel you would need and benefit from support from your Leaving Care Service beyond your birthday.

Your Pathway Plan may continue and might look at certain things that are important for you or might cover all areas.

You are entitled to a named personal adviser up to your 25^th birthday if you still need support from the service.

If you decide that you do not want support after your 21^st birthday, but later change your mind or find that you are struggling, you can simply contact the service where we can support in assessing your needs and if appropriate restarting your Pathway Plan.