Read the advice that some care leavers would like to give to young people who are about to leave care. You can also read the response from the After Care Team in pink text below.

Comment: I think that young people should be able to stay in care until they are 18 so they don’t get shipped around from place to place even if they are in residential care and foster care.

Response: This is a good point.

It’s in our aims and objectives that you do stay in care until you are 18. We are also writing a report about how the decision is made for you to leave care.  If you would like to help please contact us.

We are also going to write a short article on how you can try to stay in care until you’re really ready to leave.

Comment: They need to get a job and find a nice place to live.

Response: Finding you somewhere good to live is easier if you have been ready to leave care. We are trying very hard to get more good quality housing for care leavers. We are working with what used to be called hostels to improve the support they can offer and we are going to recruit someone to encourage people to offer supported lodgings in their house.  

Anyone who applies for this new post will have to be willing to listen to what young people want from supported lodgings. If you would like to know more about what the After Care team does click here.

Comment: You need to find out who you will have as a social worker so that you don’t feel stupid when you ring the wrong person and you need to know for when you are applying for places.

Response: It’s our job to make sure you know who your After Care worker will be you leave care. We hope to make sure that you meet and know your After Care Worker before you leave care and stay in contact with After Care until you are 21.

We know that there has been a problem in Retford and Worksop but these should now have been sorted out.

Comment: You need to sort more stuff out for yourself like your meals and getting money.

Response: NYAS ( www.nyas.net) and NACRO ( www.nacro.org.uk) can offer help with these things. NACRO has a worker who is working on better ways to help people learn life skills. They are also trying to recruit older care leavers to act as mentors and advise people who are leaving care now.

Your Leaving Care Plan should include help with this.

Comment: Don’t cause trouble when you leave because they don’t help you as much. This matters more for lads than it does for girls because the Council will help girls more.

Response: We aim to give you the same service even if you have caused trouble. But when agreements are broken it’s always harder to help, however much we still care. We know that everyone makes mistakes and deals with problems differently and we will always be available to help. Even if you have caused trouble it’s not too late to make a fresh start. If you feel you are discriminated against, complain.

Comment: When you leave care you need to stay in college and keep out of the bad crowds because they are what pull you down.

Response: Good advice share it with others!

Comment: Don’t go living with boyfriends because when you move in with a boyfriend his attitude might change.

Response: Good advice. It also helps if you think about who you share with, know your rights and if it goes wrong get help.