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Hampshire County Council - Care Leaver's information, support and Local Offer

We recognise that moving towards adulthood and being able to live independently is an exciting time in your life; it can also be a challenging time.

We want to do our best to ensure that Hampshire care leavers have the best chance possible to be successful in their adult lives. We continue to care about your wellbeing and your aspirations, and we want to support you to become happy and successful as you move forward in life. We are here to promote your best interests.

We want to let you know what you can expect from us and what services are on offer to support you as a care leaver. These pages will give you an overview of the various services and support available to you. If there is anything you are not sure about or do not understand, or if you require this in a different language, please get in contact via the details below.

The aim of the Hampshire Care Leaver Services is to support care leavers so that you can live happy and successful independent lives. Each person’s experiences are unique, and we recognise that you will be ready for independent living at a different ages. There is no assumption that all care leavers will require statutory support (like an allocated Personal Advisor) until up to age 25 and we will listen to your wishes to inform the support, advice and guidance that we offer. Although each young person will be different, we will offer support, in recognition of your growing knowledge, skills, and independence:

  • We have a responsibility to stay in touch with you on a regular basis (Section 23C of the Children Act 1989 (2)), to assess your needs and develop and keep under review a plan (with your consent) to support you.
  • For Children approaching 18 years old you will have an allocated Personal Advisor and access to a Homeless Prevention Personal Advisor to ensure you are aware of your rights and entitlements once you reach 18 years old.
  • We will support you to access a Health Passport to support you towards a healthy future.
  • We will help you access employment, education and apprenticeships and other exciting opportunities towards your aspirations into the future.
  • If you are a separated child or young person, we will help you make contact with important people and support you to navigate the complex systems you will encounter and prepare you for future possibilities following your arrival in the UK.
  • You will have the opportunity to express your views and wishes and will be supported to engage with the Care Experienced council to provide you with a voice in decision making in Hampshire.  
  • For young parents we will support you in accessing services and additional assistance if you need.
  • For young people who find themselves in Prison we will allocate you a Personal Advisor and will offer support wherever you are in the country.

The aim of the Hampshire Care Leaver Services is to support care leavers so that you can live happy and successful independent lives. Each person’s experiences are unique, and we recognise that you will be ready for independent living at a different ages. There is no assumption that all care leavers will require statutory support (like an allocated Personal Advisor) until up to age 25 and we will listen to your wishes to inform the support, advice and guidance that we offer. Although each young person will be different, we will offer support, in recognition of your growing knowledge, skills, and independence:

  • We have a responsibility to stay in touch with you on a regular basis (Section 23C of the Children Act 1989 (2)), to assess your needs and develop and keep under review a plan (with your consent) to support you.
  • For Children approaching 18 years old you will have an allocated Personal Advisor and access to a Homeless Prevention Personal Advisor to ensure you are aware of your rights and entitlements once you reach 18 years old.
  • We will support you to access a Health Passport to support you towards a healthy future.
  • We will help you access employment, education and apprenticeships and other exciting opportunities towards your aspirations into the future.
  • If you are a separated child or young person, we will help you make contact with important people and support you to navigate the complex systems you will encounter and prepare you for future possibilities following your arrival in the UK.
  • You will have the opportunity to express your views and wishes and will be supported to engage with the Care Experienced council to provide you with a voice in decision making in Hampshire.  
  • For young parents we will support you in accessing services and additional assistance if you need.
  • For young people who find themselves in Prison we will allocate you a Personal Advisor and will offer support wherever you are in the country.

All departments within Hampshire County Council, as well as the 11 Borough and District Councils within Hampshire, have  ‘corporate parenting’ responsibilities, which means it is a shared responsibility to be good parents to you and to other young people leaving our care. This means that any department you work with who know your care leaver status should take steps to understand your needs and respond appropriately to them.

In Hampshire, the Care Leavers Service sits within our Children and Families branch and consists of four Care Leavers Teams across the county. These teams are made up of a Team Manager, Senior Practitioner, Personal Advisors, and a Homelessness Prevention Personal Advisor. If open to the service, you will have an allocated Personal Advisor who is your key worker, who will support you directly and can assist you in receiving additional support, either from us or other services where required. If you’re not sure whether this offer applies to you, or if there is anything else within the information on this site that you don't understand, speak to your Social Worker, Personal Advisor, or if not open to our service please get in touch and we will be able to let you know what if any support you are entitled to.

All departments within Hampshire County Council, as well as the 11 Borough and District Councils within Hampshire, have  ‘corporate parenting’ responsibilities, which means it is a shared responsibility to be good parents to you and to other young people leaving our care. This means that any department you work with who know your care leaver status should take steps to understand your needs and respond appropriately to them.

In Hampshire, the Care Leavers Service sits within our Children and Families branch and consists of four Care Leavers Teams across the county. These teams are made up of a Team Manager, Senior Practitioner, Personal Advisors, and a Homelessness Prevention Personal Advisor. If open to the service, you will have an allocated Personal Advisor who is your key worker, who will support you directly and can assist you in receiving additional support, either from us or other services where required. If you’re not sure whether this offer applies to you, or if there is anything else within the information on this site that you don't understand, speak to your Social Worker, Personal Advisor, or if not open to our service please get in touch and we will be able to let you know what if any support you are entitled to.

If you are a Hampshire Care Leaver or believe you are a care leaver and would like support then please make contact with Hampshire County Council.

You can call 0300 555 1384 during office hours: 8.30am to 5pm Monday to Thursday and between 8.30am to 4.30pm on Fridays.

If you are a Hampshire Care Leaver or believe you are a care leaver and would like support then please make contact with Hampshire County Council.

You can call 0300 555 1384 during office hours: 8.30am to 5pm Monday to Thursday and between 8.30am to 4.30pm on Fridays.

We understand that your experiences of being in care and your transition to adulthood can sometimes be difficult and challenging for you. We want you to be happy, healthy, and successful in your life. We are committed to doing our best to help you continue to develop and grow, and achieve your own life goals, so that you can become the person you want to be.

On this page you can find details of our Local Offer which details the support, advice, and guidance we offer to Hampshire Care Leavers. We also have a housing advice ‘quick guide’ designed to help you understand your accommodation options as you move towards living independently.

We understand that your experiences of being in care and your transition to adulthood can sometimes be difficult and challenging for you. We want you to be happy, healthy, and successful in your life. We are committed to doing our best to help you continue to develop and grow, and achieve your own life goals, so that you can become the person you want to be.

On this page you can find details of our Local Offer which details the support, advice, and guidance we offer to Hampshire Care Leavers. We also have a housing advice ‘quick guide’ designed to help you understand your accommodation options as you move towards living independently.

Our work with you will be guided by these eight themes.

  1. We are here for you and can be contacted when you need us.
  2. Your voice is at the centre of our work with you.
  3. Your plans are strengthening your voice and focused on your goals.
  4. To support your health and emotional wellbeing.
  5. To make sure where you live is safe, you feel you belong, and you can access the facilities you need.
  6. Help you with your education, training and employment to find something you enjoy.
  7. Help you to develop supportive and meaningful relationships, including identifying an important person in your life and maintaining that relationship.
  8. Prepare you for your future, ensuring you have the skills you need as you transition to adulthood and independence.

Our work with you will be guided by these eight themes.

  1. We are here for you and can be contacted when you need us.
  2. Your voice is at the centre of our work with you.
  3. Your plans are strengthening your voice and focused on your goals.
  4. To support your health and emotional wellbeing.
  5. To make sure where you live is safe, you feel you belong, and you can access the facilities you need.
  6. Help you with your education, training and employment to find something you enjoy.
  7. Help you to develop supportive and meaningful relationships, including identifying an important person in your life and maintaining that relationship.
  8. Prepare you for your future, ensuring you have the skills you need as you transition to adulthood and independence.

All local authorities must publish a 'local offer for care leavers'. This sets out the services which are on offer from the local authority and from other agencies for care leavers. This is a requirement as set out in legislation. For more information please see Children and Social Work Act 2017 and the Children Act 1989. It is our responsibility to make sure you know what your entitlements are and what services are available to you. We also want you to understand what support, advice, and guidance you can expect to receive from us when you are a care leaver.

Our leaving care local offer covers:

  1. Introduction – what is the local offer to care leavers?
  2. What do we mean by care leaver?
  3. What can Hampshire care leavers’ service do?
  4. What can a Personal Advisor (PA) do?
  5. What is a My Life My Future plan?
  6. Important documents for me
  7. My health and wellbeing
  8. My relationships
  9. My education and training
  10. My employment, including my money
  11. My accommodation
  12. My participation in society, including getting my voice heard
  13. Who can help?
  14. Useful contacts

Your status as a care leaver as defined in legislation is an important factor to determine the support you may be entitled to, this is detailed in the local offer but for more information about these terms please visit Coram Voice.

We understand that the term care leaver may not be one that you like or wish to use, it is however the term used within the legislation and this is why we use it. However, you can make your wishes known to those who work with and support you to ensure that you are referred to in a way which you are happy with.

Hampshire's Local Offer for Care Leavers.

All local authorities must publish a 'local offer for care leavers'. This sets out the services which are on offer from the local authority and from other agencies for care leavers. This is a requirement as set out in legislation. For more information please see Children and Social Work Act 2017 and the Children Act 1989. It is our responsibility to make sure you know what your entitlements are and what services are available to you. We also want you to understand what support, advice, and guidance you can expect to receive from us when you are a care leaver.

Our leaving care local offer covers:

  1. Introduction – what is the local offer to care leavers?
  2. What do we mean by care leaver?
  3. What can Hampshire care leavers’ service do?
  4. What can a Personal Advisor (PA) do?
  5. What is a My Life My Future plan?
  6. Important documents for me
  7. My health and wellbeing
  8. My relationships
  9. My education and training
  10. My employment, including my money
  11. My accommodation
  12. My participation in society, including getting my voice heard
  13. Who can help?
  14. Useful contacts

Your status as a care leaver as defined in legislation is an important factor to determine the support you may be entitled to, this is detailed in the local offer but for more information about these terms please visit Coram Voice.

We understand that the term care leaver may not be one that you like or wish to use, it is however the term used within the legislation and this is why we use it. However, you can make your wishes known to those who work with and support you to ensure that you are referred to in a way which you are happy with.

Hampshire's Local Offer for Care Leavers.

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