Leaving care (Local Offer for Care Leavers)

One of the most important decisions we will support you with as a young adult leaving our care, is where you are going to live.

It is very important that wherever you live, it is safe and feels like your home.

Your social worker and personal adviser will help you with this, working through the options and support available, and helping you to decide what will be best for you.

All plans for where you live will need to be included in your Pathway Plan and agreed at your reviews.

Accommodation options

• Semi / supported accommodation
  These are independent housing providers who can provide 24 / 7 support to young people up to the age of 25 years of age. This is to help build the required self care / budgeting skills that you will need to manage and maintain your own accommodation.
• Community flats
  As part of your move on plans they also have outreach / dispersed properties in the community, which you can transition to once you have built / demonstrated that you have certain skills required to live independently in the community. Staff will continue to offer outreach support tailored to your needs and make home visits to you, to make sure that you are managing the day to day running of your tenancy.
• Trainer flats
  These tenancies are provided in partnership with South Tyneside Homes and Leaving Care Service. The tenancy will be in the name of the Leaving Care Service so that a joint responsibility can be agreed with the tenant (you will become the tenant when you move in). Appropriate support will be offered for an agreed period of time, to ensure a smooth transition to full independence.
• Staying put
  Remaining with your foster carer post 21. This should be agreed / discussed prior to you turning 18 years old with yourself, carers, social worker, personal advisor and fostering officer, and a written agreement put in place. It gives you the option to keep living with your foster carers until you feel ready to live independently or somewhere else. Your carer will also receive a weekly allowance, which will be paid up to your 18^th Birthday.
• Social housing (Council)
  This is your own tenancy with South Tyneside Council, or with another council who you have a local connection with. This can be applied for through the council website of the area you are looking at.
• Private tenancy 
  This is through a private landlord.
• Living with freinds or family

How we will support you

• Support to live independently
  Help with budgeting, cooking and renting a home.
• Practical support
  Practical support with moving into a rented home, and furnishing your home.
• Support to remain living independently in your own home
  We can give support to alllow you to continue living independently in your own home, depending on your needs.

Financial support

There is a range of financial support to help you with the costs of moving into a new home.

See financial help for accomodation.