As an Eligible Care Leaver, Children's Services are responsible for making sure you have suitable accommodation that meets your assessed needs. This might include foster care, supported lodgings or supported accommodation, depending on your circumstances. Your accommodation and support needs will be discussed as part of your Pathway Plan and Independent Living Skills Assessment (ILSA).
Although you may not yet need to worry about things like paying rent, council tax or managing household bills on your own, this is a good time to start learning about independent living. Your Personal Adviser (PA) will help you understand the different housing options available after you turn 18 and support you to develop the skills and confidence needed for adulthood.
Together, you can explore topics such as:
There is no expectation that you will know how to do all of this already. The aim is to help you build the knowledge and skills you need at a pace that is right for you, so that when you are ready to move towards greater independence, you feel confident and supported.
Need help?
👉 Speak to your Personal Advisor (PA)
👉 Or contact Children’s Services
You don’t have to do this alone.
From age 16, your social worker will help you with important practical steps, including:
From age 16, your social worker will help you with important practical steps, including:
Turning 16 is a big milestone. As you start preparing for adult life, your support will begin to focus on helping you develop the skills, confidence and support networks you need for the future.
Once you reach your 16th birthday, you will no longer have a Care Plan. Instead, you will start Pathway Planning.
A Pathway Plan is your personal plan for the future. It is built around your goals, wishes and aspirations, and helps identify the support you need as you move towards adulthood and greater independence.
Before your first Pathway Plan, your social worker will complete a Pathway Assessment of Need with you. This looks at your strengths, the skills you already have, and any areas where you would like more support or experience. Everyone develops independence at their own pace, so your plan should reflect your individual needs and circumstances.
Together with your social worker and Personal Advisor (PA), you will think about:
Your Pathway Plan should clearly set out:
what you want to achieve
what support you need
who will help you
what actions need to happen
when things should happen
Your views, wishes and feelings should always be included in your Pathway Plan.
Your Pathway Plan will cover:
Your Pathway Plan is there to help make sure you are not facing adulthood alone. It is your plan, your future, and a tool to help you get the support you need to achieve your goals.
Turning 16 is a big milestone. As you start preparing for adult life, your support will begin to focus on helping you develop the skills, confidence and support networks you need for the future.
Once you reach your 16th birthday, you will no longer have a Care Plan. Instead, you will start Pathway Planning.
A Pathway Plan is your personal plan for the future. It is built around your goals, wishes and aspirations, and helps identify the support you need as you move towards adulthood and greater independence.
Before your first Pathway Plan, your social worker will complete a Pathway Assessment of Need with you. This looks at your strengths, the skills you already have, and any areas where you would like more support or experience. Everyone develops independence at their own pace, so your plan should reflect your individual needs and circumstances.
Together with your social worker and Personal Advisor (PA), you will think about:
Your Pathway Plan should clearly set out:
what you want to achieve
what support you need
who will help you
what actions need to happen
when things should happen
Your views, wishes and feelings should always be included in your Pathway Plan.
Your Pathway Plan will cover:
Your Pathway Plan is there to help make sure you are not facing adulthood alone. It is your plan, your future, and a tool to help you get the support you need to achieve your goals.
Your Pathway Plan is not something that is written once and forgotten about. As your circumstances, goals and needs change, your plan should change too.
Your Pathway Plan will be reviewed at least every six months, or sooner if needed, to make sure the support you are receiving is helping you move towards your goals.
These reviews will continue until at least your 21st birthday, and in some circumstances up to your 25th birthday.
As you become an adult, you may want your reviews to take place in a different way or at a location that suits you better. It is important that you discuss your wishes with your Personal Advisor, who will help make sure your voice is heard.
Your Pathway Plan is not something that is written once and forgotten about. As your circumstances, goals and needs change, your plan should change too.
Your Pathway Plan will be reviewed at least every six months, or sooner if needed, to make sure the support you are receiving is helping you move towards your goals.
These reviews will continue until at least your 21st birthday, and in some circumstances up to your 25th birthday.
As you become an adult, you may want your reviews to take place in a different way or at a location that suits you better. It is important that you discuss your wishes with your Personal Advisor, who will help make sure your voice is heard.
One of the things you'll talk about during pathway planning is where you would like to live as you get older.
Many young people worry that they will have to leave their foster home as soon as they turn 18, but this is not always the case. Through a Staying Put arrangement, some care leavers can remain living with their former foster carers after their 18th birthday while they continue to develop independence skills.
Staying Put arrangements can provide:
For some young people, remaining with foster carers through a Staying Put arrangement may be the right option. For others, it may mean moving into supported accommodation, independent living, or returning to live with family.
Your social worker and Personal Advisor (PA) will help you explore your options and think about what is right for you. Planning ahead gives you time to prepare and build the skills and confidence you need for your next step.
One of the things you'll talk about during pathway planning is where you would like to live as you get older.
Many young people worry that they will have to leave their foster home as soon as they turn 18, but this is not always the case. Through a Staying Put arrangement, some care leavers can remain living with their former foster carers after their 18th birthday while they continue to develop independence skills.
Staying Put arrangements can provide:
For some young people, remaining with foster carers through a Staying Put arrangement may be the right option. For others, it may mean moving into supported accommodation, independent living, or returning to live with family.
Your social worker and Personal Advisor (PA) will help you explore your options and think about what is right for you. Planning ahead gives you time to prepare and build the skills and confidence you need for your next step.
Hampshire Children's Services are responsible for making sure you have accommodation that meets your assessed needs once you are 18.
Your housing needs will be considered through your Pathway Plan and Independent Living Skills Assessment (ILSA).
Safe and Suitable Accommodation
When accommodation is being considered, we take account of your individual needs and circumstances. This includes considering any safeguarding concerns, additional support needs, and whether the accommodation and surrounding area are suitable and safe for you. Where necessary, other agencies may be involved to help make sure accommodation is appropriate.
Hampshire Children's Services works with local housing authorities and other services to help plan your move towards independent living. Your housing needs will be considered as part of your Pathway Plan, and support will be coordinated to help ensure you have suitable accommodation and the right support at the right time.
Hampshire Children's Services are responsible for making sure you have accommodation that meets your assessed needs once you are 18.
Your housing needs will be considered through your Pathway Plan and Independent Living Skills Assessment (ILSA).
Safe and Suitable Accommodation
When accommodation is being considered, we take account of your individual needs and circumstances. This includes considering any safeguarding concerns, additional support needs, and whether the accommodation and surrounding area are suitable and safe for you. Where necessary, other agencies may be involved to help make sure accommodation is appropriate.
Hampshire Children's Services works with local housing authorities and other services to help plan your move towards independent living. Your housing needs will be considered as part of your Pathway Plan, and support will be coordinated to help ensure you have suitable accommodation and the right support at the right time.
An Independent Living Skills Assessment helps you and your Personal Adviser identify the skills and support you need as you prepare for adulthood. It looks at areas such as managing money, cooking, travel, health, housing and daily living skills. The assessment is not a test. It helps us understand your strengths and work with you to plan the support you need to achieve your goals. It forms part of your Pathway Plan and is reviewed regularly.
An Independent Living Skills Assessment helps you and your Personal Adviser identify the skills and support you need as you prepare for adulthood. It looks at areas such as managing money, cooking, travel, health, housing and daily living skills. The assessment is not a test. It helps us understand your strengths and work with you to plan the support you need to achieve your goals. It forms part of your Pathway Plan and is reviewed regularly.
Important to know first:
Even after 18:
This is normal — and we will support you every step of the way.
Important to know first:
Even after 18:
This is normal — and we will support you every step of the way.
When you are 18, you will continue to receive support from your personal advisor, who will be your key worker.
At the very least you personal advisor will want to see you face to face every two months.
In between these visits it is up to you to agree with your personal advisor how much contact and support you would like. This could be through texts, phone calls or emails.
They will support you until you are 21 or 25 if you are in education or training.
Your pathway plan will continue after you reach 18.
Go to the Care Leaver's Local Offer for full details of the support you will receive
When you are 18, you will continue to receive support from your personal advisor, who will be your key worker.
At the very least you personal advisor will want to see you face to face every two months.
In between these visits it is up to you to agree with your personal advisor how much contact and support you would like. This could be through texts, phone calls or emails.
They will support you until you are 21 or 25 if you are in education or training.
Your pathway plan will continue after you reach 18.
Go to the Care Leaver's Local Offer for full details of the support you will receive
If you are privately fostered, the arrangement will normally end when you are 16, or when you are 18 if you have a disability.
Depending on your circumstances, you may be able to claim benefits to help support yourself. For example:
Your social worker can provide a letter confirming your status to support any benefit claims.
If you are privately fostered, the arrangement will normally end when you are 16, or when you are 18 if you have a disability.
Depending on your circumstances, you may be able to claim benefits to help support yourself. For example:
Your social worker can provide a letter confirming your status to support any benefit claims.