Preperation for Leaving Care

Howestead Lodge provides a comprehensive Plan for young people to leave care and move into Independent or Semi-Independent Living; which specifies the support and assistance they will need to receive, to enable a successful transition into adulthood and which is implemented in practice.

This plan is consistent with the young person’s Placement Plan and Care Plan and also contributes to the Pathway Plan and any transition Plan for children with special educational needs.

The Support Services supplied by the Placing Authorities Leaving Care Support Team become involved when young people are 15years old.  A member of the team attends Review meetings and are involved on a regular basis in order to build relationships with Care leavers and be able to offer advice and assistance over issues relating to their future.

Howestead Lodge in agreement with the Placing Authority implements the Leaving Care Plan and any aspects of the Pathway Plan, which are the responsibility of the home.

These Plans clearly outline the arrangements for:
Education training and employment, securing safe and affordable accommodation.
Financial assistance to enable the young person to set up and maintain independent accommodation. If applicable claiming welfare benefits where this is identified as a need and they qualify. General and specialist health education, health care and other specialist services such as Counselling. Maintaining existing important networks, are defined by the young person; which may include Howestead Lodge. Creating new networks of advice support, if this is applicable. Appropriate leisure pursuits. Seeking assistance should problems arise.

Howestead Lodge will contribute to the development of the Pathway Plan for those young people who are eligible under the Leaving Care Act 2000 and will work collaboratively with the young person’s personal advisors in implementing the Plan.

The Plans are written in agreement with the young person who is given a copy.

Leaving Care Plans take into account the religious, racial, linguistic and cultural needs
of the young person

Howestead Lodge pays particular attention in preparing young people for leaving care, to their continuing needs to develop and maintain relationships with others, to understand their sexuality and establish positive, caring, social and sexual relationships and building self esteem. Prepare for Higher Education at College or University. Prepare for the world of work. Develop practical daily life knowledge and skills.

Howestead Lodge believe that appropriate to age and needs, they should provide opportunities within the home to develop knowledge and skills to all young people for their future Independent Living.

Howestead Lodge have implemented a leaving care pack which the young person will take with them when they leave Howestead Lodge.

Each pack is completed by the individual young person with the assistance of their link worker whilst still at Howestead Lodge and preparing to leave care.
The leaving care pack contains information which is relevant to the individual young person when they move on to live independently.

The pack contains information on:

- Personal; birthplace, social worker, passport, previous placements etc.
- Family; names, addresses, contact no.s etc.
- Health; doctors, dentist, counselling services etc.
- Education / work; contact no.s and addresses, E.M.A. details etc.
- Finances; bank details, leaving care grant.
- Legal; solicitors, Y.O.T.worker etc.
- Setting up home; laundry, cooking, domestic, budgeting skills etc.
- New Household bills / info; housing dept, rent payment, gas, electric suppliers etc.