What happens when a young person in foster care turns 18?
If you’re thinking about long-term foster care or fostering teenagers, you might be wondering what happens when a young person turns 18.
Before legislation changes came into effect, young people in foster care were expected to become independent from the day of their 18th birthday.
Now, young people in the UK are no longer required to leave their foster homes straight away. When a child starts to approach adulthood, a team consisting of social workers, the local authority, and foster carers will form a pathway plan for the future. Covering everything from employment and finances to accommodation, this collectively created plan will help a child to live independently once they reach adulthood.
The average age for moving out of the family home is 24.* Although no longer considered ‘looked after children’, many young people in foster care are choosing to remain within their foster family beyond age 18.
Alternatively, those who feel ready for independence have the option of moving into private accommodation or entering supported living.
In this blog post, we explore the options and support available to care leavers once they turn 18.
Staying put arrangements
If a foster family decides to stay together, the young person can carry on living in the home after they reach 18. Local authorities will continue to monitor and support this set-up until the young person turns 21 (this might be longer if a young person stays in higher education or training).
Supported living
Supported living facilities can benefit young people who wish to move out but still require assistance. Supported living usually involves moving into shared accommodation, with trained hosts and regular welfare visits. There are a variety of options available, depending on a young person’s unique circumstances. For example, those with complex needs may require 24/7 supported accommodation, whereas others may need minimal intervention. A matching process takes place to carefully assess the level of support needed.
Private accommodation
If a young person feels ready for independence, they can choose to move into private accommodation, with the reassurance that they’ll receive support along every step of the journey. The local authority offers a financial package to cover living costs, and personal advisors are also available to answer any questions, working in a similar way to social workers.
What support do foster carers receive when a young person turns 18?
You might be asking whether foster carers still get paid after a child turns 18. When a young person reaches adulthood, foster carers are classed as ‘former foster carers’. This means that levels of financial support will decrease, but most former foster carers continue to receive an allowance to cover reasonable costs until the care leaver turns 21. Our team can provide more information about individual financial circumstances.
As a young person becomes more independent, agencies and local authorities will need to be depended upon less. The ultimate aim is that young people will eventually be able to contribute towards living costs and become self-sufficient.
How can foster carers help to prepare young people for independence?
As well as the pathway plan, there are many ways that foster carers can help young people prepare for independent living. Teaching practical skills like budgeting, cooking and cleaning can be invaluable. Allocating chores, setting boundaries, and encouraging accountability can also gradually help with the journey towards becoming a well-rounded adult.
The idea of leaving care can be a scary thought, but open communication and emotional support can help alleviate these fears.
At Unity Foster Care, our team is here for our foster carers 24/7, which includes helping with the next steps.
If you’re based in Leeds, Yorkshire or nearby areas in the North East and are considering fostering, we’d love to hear from you.
Start a conversation by calling us on 0333 772 2333. Alternatively, book an initial chat with our friendly advisor Gemma, who is here to answer any questions and guide you through the fostering process.
For more information about leaving foster care, you can find out more on the UK government’s website.
*Office for National Statistics