Moving Towards Independence

Developing skills for independence should start at a very early age and build towards the skills and abilities needed for young people to live independently. You will receive training and support to help you provide effective guidance.

Regardless of the age of the young person, they need to develop skills so that they can become as independent as possible and should be encouraged to take responsibilities when they are able to do so.

You should build into the routine a chance to practice skills such as cooking and cleaning. This may start with an easy task such as cake making or preparing food and drink.

It is also useful to include young people in supermarket shopping where you can help them to understand (for example) the difference between the cost of convenience foods and fresh foods.

As the child/young person gets older they should be given responsibility for paying for things from their pocket money or savings such as magazines, activities, toiletries or mobile phone credit.

All children should be supported to open a bank or building society account in their own name from the start of a child/young person living with you.

Listed below are areas to think about with young people when preparing them for independence:

• Budgeting managing money and savings;
• What food to buy how to cook it and keep it;
• How to use a washing machine and ironing;
• Housework making a bed and how frequently they change the sheets and cleaning;
• DIY such as putting wardrobes up putting plugs on and decorating;
• Thinking about their futures - what do they want to do employment further training and how can they achieve this?
• How to plan organise and prepare for tasks:
• How to book an optician dental or GP appointment:
• Accessing advice and support from others;
• Leisure activities and other interests.

These are some of a range of things young people need to learn how to do and need to be thinking about. It is important that you support the young person to develop their self esteem and resilience in order to survive living independently as they grow and develop as young adults. We all need to feel secure and that stable firm ground to build from will support a young person when they move on to their own home.

It is tempting to do things for them but remember this will not help them in the long run as they get older and when they are living in their own home.

If you are caring for a child who is 15 years or older, there will be additional services to help you support and prepare them for independence including having a Personal Adviser. Your fostering social worker or the child’s social worker will talk to you about this.

Every young person should have an  assessment no later than 3 months after their 16th birthday that identifies their needs as they move towards adulthood. You will be asked to contribute to this and to help the young person to achieve tasks and gain skills that they will need in adulthood. These tasks and other elements will form a Pathway Plan that in time will replace their Care Plan.

This Pathway Plan will include the educational and employment arrangements support and accommodation plans including financial help.

This doesn’t mean that the young person has to leave your care, as being cared for by you might be an important part of their independence especially if the young person (for example) has a disability or if they are planning on moving to University.

The Pathway Plan will cover some of the following key areas:

• Health;
• A plan for education, training or employment;
• Support to develop and keep appropriate family links and time together, social and sexual relationships;
• A programme to develop practical skills to grow and prepare for adulthood;
• Budgeting and money management;
• The young person’s accommodation needs including any adaptions for a young person with a disability;
• What is needed to provide the young person with support.

Training and support will be available from the fostering service on developing independence in young people including those with a disability or special need.

As a foster carer, you should be aware of the corporate parenting principles and in your role to support, as well as advocate on behalf of, the child you are caring for. Remember you and the young person can request an advocate and make a referral.

In addition, County Durham local authority publishes a ‘Local Offer’ for care leavers, advising them of the support and assistance that they can have up to the age of 25. For children in year 9 and above, it would be helpful to have familiarity with the opportunities and support available and be able to discuss these with the young person when appropriate. Be mindful also that the Local Offer will change and develop over time (see Local Offer).

Local Authorities must provide information about the possibility of extending a young person’s living arrangements when they are 18.

If you feel committed to support your young person to stay with you then an option would be, the first Looked After Review following their 16th birthday we should consider a Staying Put arrangement. This will mean assessing the needs for both the young person and your family.

Following the young person’s 18th birthday, the legal basis on which they live in your home changes (the legal term is that the young person becomes an ‘excluded licensee’ lodging in the home) - this does not mean that the young person will be treated differently than when they were cared for by you.

Although Fostering Regulations do not apply to these situations there may be certain checks carried out over time. The Local Authority will need to assess and consider the appropriateness of these checks particularly where the young person is the only person living with you and it is not envisaged that further children will be cared for by you.