Leaving Care and Planning for Adulthood

You will begin being supported by a Social Worker in the Leaving Care Team around the time you turn 16. The Social Worker is here to help you to develop your independent living skills through developing and updating your Pathway Plan. The Social Worker is required to fulfil the council's obligations as your parent.

Your Leaving Care Social Worker is there to hear your voice and support you to think about your present and past, but also and importantly, your future. Your Social Worker will work with you and the people who are important to you to ensure that you achieve the goals you set together. They need to ensure that a you receive appropriate care, education and health services.

You Social Worker needs to visit you face to face in your accommodation a minimum of once every 6 weeks, or three months if you have been living in your accommodation for over one year and there are no concerns about this accommodation. This will be the case until you turn 18.

Your Social Worker will as much as possible work hard to meet your wishes and feelings, but sometimes they won't be able to give you everything that you want, particularly if they are concerned about your safety. The Leaving Care Team are there to support you to take control of your own future.

As well as your social worker there are other ways you will be support as you prepare to leave care:

• The Pathway Plan

• The Role of Personal Advisors

• Our team of Independent Reviewing Officers

You can also email the Leaving Care Team or call 020 8770 6600 if you have any questions as you start planning to leave care.