Criteria for accessing our service
The support you are entitled to is outlined in the Children (Leaving Care) Act 2000 and the Children and Social Work Act 2017. Support you are entitled to will depend on how long you have been in care and how old you are.
Who can we help?
The Leaving Care Act defines the categories of care experienced young people as eligible, relevant, former relevant and qualifying.
- Eligible – 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 – 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 (for example, in a youth offending institution or hospital) when they turned 16 but immediately before that were looked after.
- Former relevant – 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 experienced young people who do not meet the requirements of the above may be eligible for a service as a ‘qualifying child’
- Qualifying – 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 believe that you are entitled to an assessment, then in the first instance please contact the Leaving Care team on 01332 643907.