Children's Services

Learning 2 Live Team

This service is designed to meet the needs of young people leaving local authority care. We have a duty to 'advise, help and befriend' young people leaving care. With the introduction of the Children's (Leaving Care) Act 2000, we have a greater responsibility to support young people when they leave care and help to prepare for leaving care.

Services available

The Learning 2 Live Team will first make contact at the childcare review which takes place before the young person's 16th birthday. They introduce themselves to the young person and look at what help that person may need to prepare to leave care. The team provides support to young people in a number of ways.

They:

Produce a 'pathway plan' with the young person and any other people who can offer them support when preparing to leave care
Consider what the young person's aims are and plan how these can be achieved through further education, training or work
Link young people with other organisations that can help to support them
Respond to accommodation and housing issues
Name a personal adviser who will help make the links with other relevant services
We offer a drop-in service for young people so they can speak to someone who can provide independent and good advice

Eligibility

There are 3 categories of eligibility for this service.

Eligible young people

These are young people 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 by the local authority.

Relevant young people

These are young people who have been looked after by the local authority for at least 13 weeks and who have now left care.

Former relevant young people

These are young people aged 18-21 who have been either eligible or relevant young people or both. If we are still helping the young person with education or training, they will be a former relevant person to the end of this education or training, even if that takes them past the age of 21.

Assessment process

We will assess the needs of young people leaving care, or preparing to leave care, using the Framework of the Assessment of Children in Need and their Families (2000), together with pathway plans. We do this by working with young people.

A young person, or anyone who is involved with them, can ask us to review what is being provided if they feel it is in the best interest of the young person. We will review each plan regularly. This can be either every 6 months or sooner if needed.

This will be carried out with the young person at all times, unless exceptional circumstances prevent this.

Frequently asked questions

Why do social services keep files on young people over the age of 18?

Under the Children's (Leaving Care) Act 2000, we have a responsibility to young people leaving care. As a result, we need to keep case notes as evidence.

All young people can read their files if they want. However, they need permission if they want to read information that has been provided by another agency such as their GP, Housing and so on.

What are young people leaving care entitled to?

Young people leaving care are entitled to support up to their 21st birthday (or 24th birthday if they are in higher education). All young people will receive financial help and support when moving to independent accommodation.

We will assess every young person to see what their needs are and we will draw up a pathway plan giving details of what support will be provided and how it will be provided. Some young people will need more support than others.

Related information

Access to your Children's Services files if you are in care or have left care PDF 334K

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