Handy Guide 16-18
Scroll down to find a handy guide to being in care when you are over 16 but under 18 years old.
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When a young person becomes 18 they are no longer legally in care. Although many young people leave care when they are 18, some young people may leave before that.
To qualify for support after leaving care from Solihull Children’s Services, young people would have needed to have been in care for 13 weeks either:
- between ages 14 & after their 16 birthdays
- or after they are 16.
Other young people who have been in care or subject to a special guardianship order, residence order, or from another local authority, may also be able to get advice and assistance from Solihull Children’s Services.
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It's Your Life & Your Future
The question 'what do you want to do with the rest of your life?', doesn't just mean 'what job do you want to do?' It also includes your personal journey through life, like: • where are you going to live? • do you want to travel? • what skills can you develop? • what do you want to achieve? • can you help other people? Around the time of your 16th birthday, your social worker will support you with what you want to achieve out of life and will help you prepare for independent living. They will work with you to build your personal pathway plan. Your worker will support you until you are 21, or 25 if you continue in education or training.
Pathway Plans
As you are preparing to leave care, and after leaving care, you will be involved in agreeing and reviewing your Pathway Plan. Your Pathway Plan is important as it will look at the things that are important as you move towards independence, such as: • being ready to leave care • where you live • money management • looking after yourself • health • employment • education • training issues Your Pathway Plan is also your proof of the support that Children’s Services have agreed to provide you.
Educational Funding Panel
As you are preparing to leave care, and after leaving care, you will be involved in agreeing and reviewing your Pathway Plan. Your Pathway Plan is important as it will look at the things that are important as you move towards independence, such as: • being ready to leave care • where you live • money management • looking after yourself • health • employment • education • training issues Your Pathway Plan is also your proof of the support that Children’s Services have agreed to provide you.
Support with Childcare Costs
If you want to access training and education, you should find out what childcare support is on offer from your employer, training provider, college or university. If they are not able to offer support, then talk to your PA about what support may be available to help you access childcare. If needed, you could make an application to the Education Funding Panel, to request funding towards the cost of childcare whilst you are training or studying.
