Being prepared to live independently (the skills young people need): our commitment in our care leavers local offer
We want young people to be as prepared as possible when they move to live independently for the first time. The Leaving Care team will start early assessment of skills, usually shortly after a young person turns 16, during their first pathway plan. Assessment includes self-care and other key skills such as cooking, shopping, laundry and ability to pay bills and manage a budget.
The personal adviser will work with the young person and their residential or foster carers to help build skills in these key areas. This is undertaken in a safe environment to learn and build skills.
This may be by facilitating a ‘staying put’ arrangement with foster carers or, for those young people in supported accommodation within their tenancy.
Support provided includes, but is not limited to:
- buying enough food for the week and paying bills
- how to cook and make meals
- guidance on healthy eating
- guidance on taking care of a living space (being clean and tidy, washing clothes, not allowing other people to mess up a living space, getting on with neighbours and landlords, paying bills)
We want our young people to have the things they need to live independently so we discuss this with them and provide assistance to help them buy the right things at the right time.