Leaving care

Social services usually refers to statutory agencies who are by law responsible for the care, protection, health and well being of vulnerable people, including children and young people.

Social services is often used to describe the health and social care trusts in Northern Ireland. Health and social care trusts have some responsiblity for the welfare of children and young people. This includes caring for some children and young people at home, in hospitals, in residential homes and children and young people who live with foster parents.

When you leave care, you are entitled to ongoing help from social services. They may be able to provide financial support, help you find a place of your own, or provide accommodation for you. You can also get help from the Housing Executive if you become homeless. The Housing Executive has a legal duty to give housing advice and information on preventing homelessness to anyone who asks in Northern Ireland.

This information is only relevant if you have left care since 1 September 2005. If you left care before this date get advice from Voice of young people in care (VOYPIC).

Does it matter how long I was in care for?
What should I do before I leave care?
What if I become homeless after I leave care?

Does it matter how long I was in care?

The information on this page explains the help you can get if you left care after 1 September 2005 and spent a total of at least 13 weeks in care since the age of 14. The 13 weeks include time a charity, a health and social care trust or a health authority cared for you, or if you lived in a children's home or with foster parents. The 13 weeks don't need to be consecutive.

If you left care before 1 September 2005, or you spent less than 13 weeks in care, you are still entitled to help but the rules are different. If you are in one of these situations, get advice from Voice of young people in care (VOYPIC). An adviser can check the help you are entitled to and may be able to help you find a place to live.

If you are under 16 and are thinking of leaving care, your rights are very different because you are still considered to be a child. If you are having serious problems where you are living, or are experiencing violence, abuse or bullying, you may want to leave straight away.

If you are in this situation, contact Childline on 0800 1111. Childline advisers can help with lots of different problems - not just housing - and are available 24 hours a day.

What should I do before I leave care?

People who leave care are more likely to become homeless than other young people. Being well prepared can reduce the risk. Social services have a legal duty to help you and can make it easier to become independent.

Talk to your personal adviser

As part of your leaving care package, social services have to give you a personal adviser. It's your personal adviser's job to assess the help you will need to enable you to live independently. This could include:

helping you find and keep somewhere to live;
asking the Housing Executive to help you;
helping you apply for a grant or loan to help cover your housing costs;
putting you in contact with specialist agencies that help young people;
making sure you can deal with the practicalities of living independently, such as managing your money and cooking your own meals.

Put together a pathway plan

You and your adviser should put together a pathway plan setting out the help and support you will need after you leave care. This should include:

housing;
financial support;
life skills such as cooking and budgeting
education;
training;
employment;
any special support you need.

When you leave, your adviser should keep in touch until your 21st birthday and review your pathway plan with you to see how you are getting on. Your pathway plan should be updated regularly to take your progress into account.

Find out about your rights

If you are not happy with the help your personal adviser is giving you, contact Voice of Young People in Care. Your perspnal adviser can check whether social services are providing the support you are entitled to.

Whatever you say is usually just between you and the adviser you speak to. The adviser won't contact anyone else about your situation unless you agree to it or you are in danger.

Work out your finances

The housing options you have will depend on how much money you have. You need to work out how much you can afford. Think about how much it will cost to get your own place and how you will pay for it. Your personal adviser should help you with this. Remember:

most care leavers can't get housing benefit until they are 18;
if you rent from a private landlord you normally have to pay one month's rent as a deposit and one month's rent in advance before you move in;
you will have to pay for gas, electricity, water and telephone. You may have to pay to have these services connected and you may be asked for a deposit;
you will need money for food, clothing and travel expenses;
you may need furniture and other household items.

If you're under 18 and leave care, social services are responsible for supporting you financially. This means that they have to ensure you have enough money for the things you need, including rent and food.

You probably won't be able to get accommodation from the Housing Executive or claim benefits until you are 18.

Try to have some savings set aside for emergencies. If you move into accommodation that you can't afford, you could run into financial problems. If you don't pay the rent, you can be evicted and if you don't have enough money for the bills, your utilities could be cut off. Borrowing money isn't usually a good idea as it could leave you with debts that are difficult to pay.

Find a place to live before you leave

It's a good idea to find somewhere to live before you leave care - your personal adviser should help you do this. Otherwise you may find yourself with nowhere to stay, no money and few housing options. Although you may be able to stay with family and friends for a few days, this can be stressful and you may start to feel that you are getting in the way. Find somewhere you can stay for at least the first few months.

If you intend to claim housing benefit when you move in, find out the local housing allowance for the area where you want to live. This is the amount of housing benefit you will receive to pay for private rented accommodation. You will have to pay for everything that housing benefit doesn't cover. Most single young people aged under 35 will have their housing benefit restricted to the Shared Accommodation Rate if they rent privately. If you spent time in care after you were 16 you will be protected from this restriction until you are 22.

What if I become homeless after I leave care?

Care leavers are more likely to become homeless than other young people. If this happens to you, talk to your personal adviser as soon as you can. They may be able to help you find emergency accommodation while you look into your longer term options. They can also check the help you are entitled to. This usually depends on your age and personal circumstances.

If you are under 18, social services are responsible for you. If you go to the Housing Executive for help, it will probably ask social services to help you. The Housing Executive has a legal duty to give housing advice and information on preventing homelessness to anyone who asks in Northern Ireland.

If you are aged 18 to 21, you can get help from social services and the Housing Executive. If you are in priority need, the Housing Executive should help you find a place to live, at least temporarily. Social services can help you by providing support and help with training and education.

Some older care leavers can get accommodation from the Housing Executive if they can show that they are in priority need. This may be the case if you are vulnerable as a result of having been in care - for example if: