Local Offer for Care Leavers

What it's about

Last updated: 21 May 2021

This offer tells you about the support we have in Essex for you as a care leaver.

We want to help you achieve the best you possibly can. This offer has been put together with the help of local young people leaving care and other agencies.

It explains how you can contact your Leaving and After Care team (LAC team) and where you can get help, further information and support.

Who it's for

To get the support set out in this offer, you must have been in care for a period of at least 13 weeks (or periods amounting to 13 weeks) which began after age 14 and included some time after your 16th birthday.

Your Personal Adviser (PA)

Before you turn 18, you will be allocated a Personal Adviser (PA), who will work alongside your social worker to help you make the transition to independent living.
Your PA will continue working with you until you turn 21, or up to age 25 if you wish.
The amount of support you receive will depend on what you want and your circumstances.

Pathway Plans

A Pathway Plan is a document that you will complete with your social worker or PA between the ages of 16 and 21. It will set out your needs, your views, any future goals and what support you'll receive.

We'll consider with you what extra support you may need depending on your personal circumstances, if for example you are:

• at university
• on an apprenticeship
• a young parent
• leaving custody
• an unaccompanied asylum seeking young person
• have special educational needs

You have a right to be involved in all decisions about your plans for leaving care. You have a right to support from an independent advocate if you want to challenge decisions about the support we give you.

Independent advocates can inform you about your rights and help you to be heard. You can access advocacy at Rethink Essex, or call them on 0300 790 0559.