East Sussex County Council Staying Put Scheme
1. Introduction
Since May 2014, fostered young people in England have the right to stay with their foster families when they reach 18, if both parties agree. This is called a ‘Staying Put’ arrangement. The implementation of the Children and Families Act 2014, part 5 Welfare of Children (98) meant that local authorities in England are required to facilitate, monitor and support Staying Put arrangements for fostered young people which can last until they reach the age of 21.
In East Sussex, we believe that all children and young people should have the opportunity for stability and continuity through their transition into adult life. As within all families some young people will be ready for independent living as they reach their eighteenth birthday and others may not yet feel ready. A Staying Put arrangement with their existing foster family may be the preferable option for some young people until they are fully prepared and have developed the necessary skills to succeed in their transition to independent living.
A Staying Put arrangement is not the same as a foster placement and any young person under a Staying Put arrangement needs to be a ‘former relevant child’ (ie: aged 18 to 25 years old and were in care on or after their 16th birthday for a period of at least 13 weeks) and no longer a looked after child. They will be a young adult and entitled to support as a care leaver. The foster carer is no longer acting in the capacity of foster carer for that young adult but will have a relationship as their ‘former foster carer’. The foster placement becomes a ‘Staying Put arrangement’ and is no longer governed by fostering services regulations.
The ‘former foster carer’ offering a Staying Put arrangement to someone they previously fostered, may at the same time be offering ongoing foster placements to children who are looked after. Such placements will continue to be subject to fostering services regulations. In this circumstance, the former relevant child will require a safeguarding and DBS check as they become an adult member of the fostering household.
Related legislation
This policy is consistent with, and takes account of Staying Put Arrangements for Care Leavers aged 18 and above to stay on with their former foster carers - Government Guidance issued by the DofE, DWP and HMRC (2013); Children and Families Act 2014; Care Leavers (England) Regulations 2010; Planning Transition into Adulthood for Care Leavers Guidance and Government Staying Put Guidance (2013) and the Children and Social Work Act 2017.
2. Purpose of this Staying Put Policy
The purpose of this Staying Put policy is to set out the aims of Staying Put arrangements and to provide guidance to young people approaching 18, their foster carers, supervising social workers and other relevant professionals on this being one of the accommodation arrangements that can be offered to young people looked after following their 18th birthday.
The principal aims of Staying Put are as follows:
- To offer a stepping stone into semi-independent living for a care leaver with the specific option of staying with their previous foster family before they feel ready to move into greater independence.
- To provide care leavers with the identified post 18 support they need to continue to develop the necessary practical and emotional skills before they are required to live independently.
- To ensure that young people are given the opportunity to experience a supportive transition to adulthood within a nurturing and encouraging family environment.
- To prevent the risk of homelessness and social exclusion.
- To help care leavers maximise their full potential and opportunities for education, employment or training.
- To allow for the time needed to work towards a planned move on which is in line with timescales that the young person can realistically manage.
‘Staying Put’ agreements are used to define a set of arrangements whereby a young person is leaving foster care to have their living arrangement with a previous foster carer extended. ESCC Staying Put arrangements are considered on an individual basis and such arrangements take into account the individually assessed circumstances and needs around any or all of the following relating to the young person:
· Education, Employment and Training
· Vulnerability in the community
· Available support networks
· Alternative accommodation options available
· Any planned move-on and timescales
· Additional needs/ challenges or disabilities identified post 18.
The specific agreements, decisions and planning around living arrangements within an ESCC placement should be clearly set out in the ESCC Post 18 Accommodation Agreement Form (Appendix 1)
3. Overview of Staying Put arrangements
The Children Act 1989 Guidance and Regulations Volume 3: Planning transition to adulthood for care leavers states:
‘Care leavers should expect the same level of care and support that others would expect from a reasonable parent. The Local Authority responsible for their care should make sure that they are provided with the opportunities they need, which will include offering them more than one chance as they grapple with taking on the responsibilities of adulthood’.
In ESCC we are supporting a number of Staying Put placements whereby young people leaving care can be in such living arrangements from the ages of 18 until 21. During that time, these living arrangements should be reviewed during at least 6 monthly intervals and ongoing consideration should be paid to the right time for them to move on to independent living, which can be anytime between the ages of 18-21. In certain situations, the arrangement may be extended beyond that time if the young person is finishing their education course at university or similar and up to the age of 25 in these circumstances.
Transitional arrangements for young people with disabilities or additional needs are covered by the Special Educational needs and disability codes of practice 0-25 years. Where there are identified additional needs or disabilities, consideration should be paid to making a referral to Adult Social Care, whereby responsibilities around the provision of supported accommodation should also be considered. Adult Social Care accommodation provision may be made by way of a “Shared Lives scheme”.
4. Staying Put procedures
In East Sussex, a former relevant young person can be supported with their post 18 accommodation needs either by living under a Staying Put/ Supporting Independence placement arrangement, or via alternative living arrangements as set out in the diagram below:
Post 18 accommodation options for young people who are currently in foster care should be first discussed at the young person’s My Voice Matters (MVM) meeting following their 16th birthday, this should include a discussion with the foster carers about the financial and practical implications of the arrangement. As a young person approaches their sixteenth birthday, they should also have a ‘Pathway Plan’ in preparation for adult life. The pathway plan should cover all domains of a young person’s needs including:
- Education, training or employment
- Development of practice skills
- Health and sexual relationships
- Finances and benefits
- Self-esteem and resilience
- Accommodation.
Pathway planning should take place early, recognising the need for structure and stability. This Pathway Plan will assess the needs of the young person as they move towards independence. The pathway plan should be regularly reviewed and will also form a key part of the discussion at the young persons My Voice Matters, looked after children’s reviews.
5. ESCC Staying Put processes
In ESCC, within the Fostering Service, we have a dedicated team which focuses specifically on 16+ foster placements and those offering Staying Put (16+ and Supporting Independence Team - SIT). Staff in this team concentrate on supervising and supporting carers who provide placements to young people who are moving closer to independence and work closely and collaboratively with their social workers and PA’s and much of the work centres around independence skills and young people moving on.
In ESCC, when the young person is approaching 17.5, 16+ and SIT send out a ‘Post 18 Accommodation Notification’ form (see Appendix 2) to the young person’s social worker or PA which seeks confirmation of what intended post 18 accommodation plan is being pursued.
A ‘Post 18 Accommodation Options’ letter (see Appendix 3) will also be sent out by the team to the foster carer of any young person 17.5 and currently in their care, advising of the accommodation options which can/ are currently being considered.
The ‘Post 18 Accommodation Notification Form’ asks for the views of all relevant parties in relation to the proposed accommodation arrangements post 18 (CSW; Foster carer/Accommodation Provider; SSW; young person and any others considered relevant). It is important that should a Staying Put arrangement be suggested, that the key parties: foster carer/ young person/ social worker/PA and 16+SIT supervising worker) are all in support of this in order for it to go ahead.
Following receipt of the completed ‘Post 18 Accommodation Notification Form’, a worker will be allocated from 16+ SIT to complete the ‘Post 18 Accommodation Agreement Form’ (formerly called the ‘Staying Put Agreement’).
Prior to completing the ‘Post 18 Accommodation Agreement Form’ with the Staying Put provider, the allocated worker will contact the supervising worker to the foster carers and the young person’s social worker/ PA to discuss any areas of clarification needed.
The allocated worker from 16+ SIT will then make contact with the foster carer/ Staying Put carer to arrange a time to meet them and the young person to meet and complete the agreement form. The following factors need to be considered at the meeting:
- Whether the Staying Put/When I’m Ready arrangement is likely to be in the best interests of the young person.
- The likely duration of the Staying Put/When I’m Ready placement and any agreements needed.
- The implications for the foster carer in terms of continued fostering approval and review of suitability arrangements.
- The financial changes and expectations within the arrangement for the foster carer and young person.
- Whether fostering alongside the Staying Put/When I’m Ready arrangement is feasible and the foster carer’s capacity to care for other children
Once completed, the ‘Post 18 Accommodation Agreement Form’ will be sent to the foster carer/ accommodation provider’s supervising worker and the Young Person’s CSW/ PA for review and signatures indicating agreement.
When a young person stays in their fostering household on Staying Put policy beyond their eighteenth birthday, should the household continue to foster, the young person will need an enhanced DBS check and a safeguarding check to be completed
The ‘Post 18 Accommodation Agreement Form’ and placement arrangement will be reviewed by all parties at 6 monthly intervals
6. Comparing Foster Placements and Staying Put
When a young person reaches 18, they are no longer a looked after child by law. The fostering regulations, statutory guidance and national minimum standards therefore no longer apply to that living arrangement.
Young adults leaving care are entitled to support from their placing authority who have certain legal duties to them and whilst they will no longer have an allocated children’s services social worker, they will have an allocated Personal Advisor (PA) who’s role is to fulfil the legal duties. These duties continue until the young person is at least 21 years of age, and in some circumstances until they are 25 years old and include:
- Taking reasonable steps to keep in touch
- Continuing to keep their ‘pathway plan’ under regular review
- Appointing a personal adviser for the young person
- Providing some financial assistance by contributing to the young person’s expenses, including enabling them to continue to pursue education or training
- Paying the higher education bursary when they progress to higher education (e.g., University).
The Staying Put provider is not required to go through any additional assessments as they are considered to have the necessary prerequisite skills and experience having been the young person’s previous foster carer so the arrangements are made between adults and are therefore, not regulated although there are still key expectations upon LA’s in relation to due diligence nonetheless.
The National Children’s Bureau, Children’s Partnership, ‘Staying Put/When I’m Ready Good Practice’, (2013) provides a good distinction between the difference between a foster placement and Staying Put arrangement.
| FOSTER PLACEMENT | STAYING PUT ARRANGEMENT |
|---|---|
| Child/young person under 18 | Young person is over 18 and legally an adult. Arrangements are supported by the Local Authority until 21 |
| Child/young person is looked after within a fostering arrangement | Living arrangement between two adults |
| Young person has a care plan/pathway plan setting out how their needs are best met | The young adult and the former foster carer agree the parameters of the arrangement within the living together agreement |
| Foster carer receives an allowance to cover the costs of care for the young person | Former foster carer receives a reduced allowance and the young adult is responsible for budgeting their own expenses |
| Local authority will ensure benefits entitled to the young person such as child benefit are paid to the foster carer | The young adult is responsible for applying for any relevant benefits such as housing benefits, universal credit etc. with the support of their Personal Advisor |
| Placement is governed by fostering regulations | No regulation to govern the arrangement although LA’s do have due diligence responsibilities and fostering regulations may have an influence if the carer continues their role in fostering |
| Young person is not subject to a DBS check | A DBS check will be required in a fostering home |
| Offences committed by the young person in placement may be subject to an assessment to evaluate if the risks can be managed | Offences presented on a DBS check of the young person may prevent the carer continuing as a foster carer for other children |
7. Finances
ESCC provide an element of financial support to enable a young person to remain living with their foster carer once they reach their 18th birthday. Currently in ESCC, this rate is the same as the allowance received by 18+ supported lodgings providers.
Each fostering household and young person’s needs will be specific to them, therefore, any benefit entitlement, such as housing benefit, income support and any tax implications will need to be looked at on an individual basis. It will be the responsibility of the foster carer to support the young adult, with the support of their supervising social worker when needed, to liaise with the young person’s social worker or PA to request this information. Whilst the Children and Family Act 2014 states a duty for LA’s to allow care leavers turning 18 to be supported to Stay Put until the age of 21 years regardless of being in education, training, employment or unemployed, all care leavers will still be encouraged to engage in education, employment or training. There will also be an expectation that they will work with the Youth Employability Service (YES) worker who will complete an Employment Education and Training action plan which will be reviewed monthly.
For those young people who are Staying Put and in employment, they will need to be financially assessed to determine the financial contribution they will make to their accommodation costs.
In situations where the young person’s post 18 accommodation options are considered to be at risk, or where it is felt that additional funding should be considered in order to support the continued placement, these situations will be considered by Operation Managers from the Fostering Service and Through Care Team following case presentation at ESCC Staying Put panels which are held 3 monthly.
Income tax, national insurance and welfare benefits situation of carers may be affected by post-18 payments as well as Insurance issues including liability and household insurance which need to be considered.
Pathway Plan meetings alongside Staying Put Agreement Review meetings will be used to review the Staying Put arrangements and ensure that they are still meeting the needs of the young person and that an appropriate exit plan is in place.
The Staying Put arrangement can extend until the young person leaves/ reaches their twenty-first birthday or they complete a programme of education or training (which may extend beyond their twenty-first birthday).
8. Support and Status of Approval
The ‘former foster carer’ offering a Staying Put arrangement may continue to offer foster placements to children who are looked after. These foster placements will continue to be subject to provisions of the Fostering Services Regulations. If the foster carer is continuing to foster alongside a child who is Staying Put, the young person on Staying Put is not included in the number of children that can be fostered. This means that if the carer continues to foster in addition to their Staying Put, they can foster up to three children if their fostering approval allows and it is considered appropriate to do so.
It is not necessary to have continued fostering registration in order to be able to provide a Staying Put placement to someone a foster carer has previously cared for. In these instances, the term ‘accommodation provider’ can be used instead of ‘foster carer’. However, DfE, DWP and HMRC Guidance May 2013 is clear that:
“Where no foster children are living in the "Staying Put" arrangement, whilst legislation relating to fostering will no longer apply (if no foster child remains in the household), key standards should continue to govern the expectations of the "Staying Put" arrangement and carer/s when a child/young person reaches the age of eighteen”
The key standards identified above should include:
- opportunities to still attend appropriate training;
- a system for considering if a person's approval as a foster carer should be ended and for implementing the deregistration/ termination process in circumstances where the foster carer is unlikely to be caring for any further foster children in the future;
- a system for reviewing and approving the "Staying Put" arrangement and carer/s to ensure the arrangement complies with local authority expectations;
- safeguarding and risk assessment checks on household members and in certain circumstances regular visitors;
- health and safety requirements (as a minimum this should comply with landlord and licensee/tenant requirements);
- regular supervision and support, possibly, from their fostering supervising social worker.
If foster carers have decided to stick to Staying Put/ Supporting Independence placements only, they would need to discuss deregistration. Should they pursue deregistration, and are 18+ carers only, whether Staying Put or Supporting Independence providers, then the responsibility for their supervision moves to the 16+ SIT Team.
The 16+ SIT team adhere to due diligence responsibilities in relation to Staying Put/Supporting Independence placement only carers by way of offering the following:
- An allocated worker specialising in Staying Put
- Monthly supervision visits
- Annual reviews
- Completing DBS and safeguarding checks every 3 years on all adult members of the household
- Completing Health and safety checks
- Offering access to training.
Appendix 1
Post 18 Accommodation Agreement Form
(Young people aged 18-21 in Supported Independence Placements/Staying Put)
The purpose of this agreement is to set out the terms and conditions for a young person turning 18 to live in a Supporting Independence household. It is a flexible document and should be used to set out the roles and responsibilities of the young person and those of the Supporting Independence placement provider.
This agreement should be completed prior to a young person reaching 18 years old and should be linked to the young person’s pathway plan and evidence their Skills Journal and a Housing application.
A young person 18 + may reside under one of the following arrangements;
- Staying Put – they will currently be in a household with their existing foster carers, who may continue to be foster children/ young people alongside the Staying Put placement and it is agreed by all that the young person will remain in this household under a Staying Put arrangement, potentially until the age of 21, OR until it is considered the right time for them to move on.
- Supporting Independence Placement – for some young people aged 18, provided they are a former relevant child (ie: they are aged 18 to 25 years old and were in care on or after their 16th birthday for a period of at least 13 weeks), an agreement can be made for them to reside in a Supporting Independence placement that is not ‘Staying Put’. This would apply to young people who have not recently been in foster care but are now deemed to be in need of supported accommodation OR if they are with their previous foster carers and actively seeking to move as soon as possible to alternative accommodation.
The agreement has three main areas which will be covered under the placement terms and conditions:
- Responsibilities of everyone who signs the agreement.
- House rules and expectations.
- Support to be provided to the young person.
| Please circle: | STAYING PUT | or | SUPPORTING INDEPENDENCE PLACEMENT |
|---|
| Document | Seen/ completed | Comments | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pathway Plan | Yes | No | |
| Skills Journal | Yes | No | |
| Housing application submitted | Yes | No |
| Title: | Name: |
|---|---|
| Young Person | |
| Accommodation Provider | |
| CSW/PA for Young Person | |
| Supervising worker for Accommodation Provider (should attend if accommodation provider is remaining a foster carer) | |
| Chair of meeting |
| Allowance and contribution | Your accommodation provider is not responsible for providing any financial assistance to you in placement. You are responsible for ensuring you are claiming the correct benefits if not working and paying a £30 rent contribution to your accommodation provider. This is to contribute to utilities used (water, gas, electric, Wi-Fi) and food. |
|---|---|
| Overnight stays | You need to alert your accommodation provider to any nights out you have planned. |
| Visitors to placement and contact with family | Any visitors to the household need to be agreed by your accommodation provider and will take into consideration the following; -Whether this is a fostering household -Ages and profiles of other household members -Whether the provider considers this to be an appropriate arrangement -If there are any concerns in relation to this, there will be a discussion between professionals as to the appropriateness of this. You are responsible for arranging contact with family – due to other young people potentially being in the household, please do not disclose the address to others. |
| Coming in Times | You will be expected to let your accommodation provider know roughly what time you expect to be home. Consideration to be given to other household members and a reasonable time to be agreed. Whilst acknowledging this young person is no longer a child but taking into account their historical involvement with children’s services and any potential vulnerabilities, your accommodation provider will have access to the Fostering Advice Line and they can make contact if there is a concern for a young person’s safety and wellbeing. |
| Transport | You are responsible for making your own travel arrangements and need to familiarise yourself with public transport links/times. If you are unsure, your accommodation provider can support you in looking these up. It is up to your accommodation provider’s discretion if they choose to support you with any transport arrangements. |
| Drugs/alcohol/other substances/smoking | Under no circumstances is a young person permitted to take or have drugs/ other substances in placement. If you are found with these in your possession, the accommodation provider will need to inform the police and take advice about how to dispose of them. Smoking will only be permitted outside of the property as directed by your accommodation provider. You are responsible for ensuring you dispose of cigarette butts safely and tidily. No smoking permitted in your bedroom. Alcohol – you are 18 years of age so may bring alcohol into the property but discussions on storage of and access to alcohol will need to take into account the ages and behaviours of other members of the house, especially if there are children or if it is a fostering household. Any alcohol consumption will be monitored and if it becomes a concern for the accommodation provider, this will be reviewed. |
| Meals and Dietary needs | Your accommodation provider will ensure there is food available that meets your dietary requirements. You will have an evening meal however provided but if you do not want an evening meal prepared, you need to notify your accommodation provider in advance. You will be responsible for preparing your own breakfast and lunches and to cook an evening meal at least twice a week for yourself. If you cook, you are responsible for clearing up afterwards. |
| Appointments | You will be responsible for making your own health or personal appointments. Your accommodation provider can prompt you to make phone calls/keep appointments as required. |
| Educational or employment support | You are responsible for maintaining your educational or employment provision. If you need any support with making appointments, you can ask your accommodation provider for advice. If you are not in education or employment, you need to be actively seeking either and failure to do so may affect your agreement to remain in the household. |
| Bathroom and toiletries | You are responsible for purchasing your own toiletries (shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, sanitary products, shaving products). You should ensure the bathroom is left clean and tidy after use. Your accommodation provider will supply cleaning materials. |
| Bedroom | You will have your own bedroom and are responsible for maintaining the cleanliness of this and ensuring bed linen is changed regularly. If you are permitted to eat in your room, all food / crockery / cutlery needs to be removed after eating and washed up. Your accommodation provider will ensure your bedroom is furnished and you have adequate storage space. You are expected to maintain your own room and if there is concern around the condition of this, your accommodation provider will raise this with you. If there are ongoing concerns, this will be raised with your Personal Advisor – you will be given notice of this. Your accommodation provider will ensure you have access to necessary cleaning products. Household member’s bedrooms are private and should not be accessed by others. |
|---|---|
| Communal areas | You can have access to the other areas of the house (apart from other people’s bedrooms and equally they should not have access to your bedrooms) or those identified by the provider – a garage/shed for example. You are expected to leave the room in a tidy and clean way. |
| Laundry | You are responsible for your own laundry. Washing detergent will be provided. Your accommodation provider will show you how the machine works. You may be given a set day to do laundry and it will need removing from the machine when finished and hung up to dry. |
| Telephone | The landline telephone is not permitted for use by you unless consent has been given by your accommodation provider. You are responsible for ensuring you have credit / access to a phone to contact the provider. |
| Consideration of others | You are expected to be respectful to others living in the home and neighbouring community. Noise (watching TV / playing music / talking on phone) should be kept minimal later at night. You are to return quietly when coming in and not to start cooking late at night. |
| Key to placement | If you are given a key to the property, it is your responsibility to keep this safe and you are not permitted to get a duplicate cut. Loss of the key will result in a charge to replace it. At the end of this arrangement, you are responsible for returning the key. |
| Skills Journal | Whilst in placement you are expected to complete this document (if not done so already) to support you moving on to your own accommodation. This should be completed by the age of 18 but is a working document. It is also the responsibility of the accommodation provider and PA to complete this with you. |
| Financial obligations (complete what is being claimed) | o Universal Credit o Bursary o Living Allowance o Other |
| Ending of arrangement | This arrangement will end if you choose to move or if the accommodation provider decides to end the arrangement. The YP or provider will inform your PA/ supervising worker and 28 days’ notice will be given. However, you may have to leave immediately if it is deemed inappropriate or unsafe for the you or other household members to remain for the full 28 day notice period. It is your responsibility and that of your PA/social worker to remove your belongings immediately – payments to the provider cannot be stopped unless your belongings are all removed, and you will still be eligible to pay your £30 contribution. |
| Contingency Plan should this arrangement breakdown | To be discussed |
Alternative move on plans and your options – post 18 – 21:
• Move to other Supporting Independence placement
• Move to shared accommodation
• Foyer/YMCA
• Connected family links / Return home
• Housing
• Private rented accommodation
• Higher education/ armed forces
| TITLE | NAME | SIGNATURE | DATE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Young Person | |||
| PA/CSW for Young Person | |||
| Accommodation provider | |||
| Supervising worker to accommodation provider | |||
| Chair of agreement meeting |
Appendix 2
Post 18 Accommodation Notification Form
To be completed by CSW and the SSW upon young person reaching 17.5 years old and returned to jeni.bryson@eastsussex.gov.uk- admin to 16+ Supporting Independence Team.
| Name of Young Person | |
|---|---|
| Date of birth | |
| P number | |
| Legal Status | |
| Current Address | |
| Foster carer name | |
| Young person’s CSW | |
| Young person’s PA | |
| Supervising worker |
PROPOSED POST 18 ACCOMMODATION PLAN
|
Accommodation Options |
Tick as appropriate |
|
Staying Put |
|
|
Supporting Independence with current foster carer with view to move out in the near future |
|
|
Supporting Independence Placement but not with existing foster carers (move onto supported lodgings placement) |
|
|
Referral to be made to ASC |
|
|
Semi-independent accommodation |
|
|
Foyer |
|
|
Private arrangement |
|
|
Higher Education/armed forces (may require supported lodgings during breaks) |
|
|
Return home |
|
|
Move in with family or friends |
|
|
Private rented accommodation |
|
|
Council accommodation |
|
|
Will this young person be remaining in education? |
|
|
Will this young person be claiming benefits? |
|
|
Will this young person be seeking work/paid training? |
|
|
If Staying Put and remaining in education – Has an enhanced fostering top up fee been agreed with Managers? |
|
THIS SECTION TO BE COMPLETED BY SSW
|
Will this remain a fostering household YES/NO? |
|
|
IF NO: Is there agreement from your Practice Manager for you to continue as SSW? Please insert date of agreement/case note. |
|
|
If no agreement to remain SSW Please Confirm (this will transfer to 16+ Fostering and Supporting Independence Team) |
|
Appendix 3
Dear
Re: Post 18 Accommodation Options
We are aware that you currently have a young person in placement with you who is approaching 18. We are therefore writing to you to explain the post accommodation options which will need to be considered should you not be clear on these.
Staying Put
The Children and Families Act 2014 introduced a new duty on Local Authorities in England to advise, assist and support fostered young people to stay with their foster families when they reach 18, if both parties agree. Staying Put arrangements relate to young people wishing to remain in their former foster placement once turning18 and can last up until the young person becomes 21, or until the education or training programme being undertaken on their 21st birthday is completed at which point Staying Put ends and payments will cease.
There is an expectation that young people who are Staying Put will be supported to continue to develop a range of life and social skills that will prepare them for future independence. Your supervising worker will be able to advise you of your allowances as a Staying Put carer as these will change once the young person turns 18 and has finished their final year in full time education.
Should Staying Put be the agreed plan by all, a meeting will be arranged to set out this agreement. The Local Authority will cease to fund placements for young people post 21 and any young people remaining in placement post 21 do so with the agreement of the carer under a private arrangement around finances. Please note, it is not necessary to be an approved foster carer should you only wish to provide a Staying Put placement to the young person in your care turning 18 and no longer wish to carry on fostering. Your supervising worker can agree a termination of fostering approval if this is the case. In these instances you will have reduced input from the Fostering Service who will need to continue to have a level of oversight in relation to the Staying Put Placement and ensure all necessary checks are in place.
Alternative accommodation options
For some young people turning 18, Staying Put will not be considered appropriate for them in which case the alternative options can include:
· Supporting Independence Placement but not with existing foster carers
· Semi-independent accommodation
· Higher Education/armed forces (may require supported lodgings during breaks)
· Return home
· Foyer
· Private arrangement
· Move in with family or friends
· Private rented accommodation
Discussions around post 18 accommodation options should already be taking place between the young person in your care and their social worker at the time of writing this letter and they should be allocated a personal advisor (PA) from the Through Care Team shortly after turning 18, who will further assist and support with their accommodation needs.
I hope this offers some guidance and clarifies the options available to the young person in your care upon turning 18 but should you have any questions, please contact your supervising worker to discuss.
Yours sincerely
Sinead Roche
Practice Manager
16+ Fostering and Supporting Independence Team