Who is a Care Leaver?

The law is divided into different categories according to your situation. Your support offer may vary depending on these categories.

Your social worker or Personal Advisor (PA) can help you to understand which of these categories applies to you.

Eligible Care Leaver

You are currently looked after
You are aged 16-17
You have been looked after for a period of at least 13 weeks after the age of 14

You aren’t currently looked after by the Local Authority but have previously been “Eligible”
You are aged 16-17
You have been detained or in hospital but were “Eligible” before that OR you have lived for six continuous months with a parent or someone with parental responsibility and that has broken down.

You are aged 18+ and when you were under 18 were “Relevant” or “Eligible”
Did you know? If you are between 21 and 25 and are in education or training, you will remain a Former Relevant Care Leaver until the end of your agreed ETE pathway
Did you know? If you are 21 or over and you want to pursue or are currently pursuing education or training, you can be reinstated as a Former Relevant Care Leaver.

You are at least 16 but under 21
You were looked after prior to the making of a special guardianship order which was in force when you reached 18 OR…
If at any time after you were 16 but before you were 18 you were looked after by any of the following: a voluntary organisation (or on behalf of them), a registered children’s home, a health authority or you have been fostered
Did you know? As a Qualifying Care Leaver you can access advice and assistance based on a Needs Assessment completed by the Leaving Care Team. However, you won’t be entitled to the full Care Leaver offer.