What support should I get as an eligible care leaver?

If you are called an eligible care leaver, it usually means you are aged 16 or 17 and you are in care but are preparing to leave care.

Even though you’re starting to become more independent, you should not be left to manage everything on your own. The law says the local authority still has a responsibility to support you and help you get ready for adult life.

This support is there to help you with things like:

• having somewhere safe to live
• staying in education, training or work
• managing money
• looking after your health and wellbeing
• planning for your future

You should also have adults working with you who listen to you, take you seriously, and help you make decisions about your life.

In this section, you can find out about the support you should be getting and who should be helping you.