Stages of promoting independence
We set out below what promoting independence looks like at different stages of a young person’s approach to adulthood. It is important to note that the ages given act only as a guide. Each and every young person is different in their own development, experiences and circumstance.
From year 7
- Identifying the key relationships and connections with family, friends and community
- Seeking opportunities to build community around the young person
- Starting to learn and practice key living skills as part of daily home life, like cooking and cleaning
- Understanding the basic ‘need-to-knows’ for keeping safe at home, online, at school and in the community
- Understanding the basic ‘need-to-knows’ for keeping physically, mentally and emotionally healthy and well
- Beginning to explore personal identity and sense of belonging in a safe environment, and knowing where to go and who to talk to in confidence about identity and belonging
- Understanding basic rights as a young person, and as a care-experienced young person, including how to have a say in decision-making and planning
From year 9
- Nurturing key relationships and connections with family, friends and community
- Seeking opportunities to build community around the young person
- Building in more responsibility and freedom in learning daily living skills
- Learning basic money management (pocket money and savings)
- Early conversations about interests and goals in life, including how KS4 and FE can help achieve those goals
- Initial conversations about housing options post 16 and 18, linked to personal goals for the future and how to achieve them
- Learning the basics about how to keep safe at home, online, at school and in the community
- Learning how to be physically, mentally and emotionally healthy and well, and knowing where to go/who to speak to for more help and support
- More developed conversations around Identity and belonging, including signposting to more information and support
- More developed conversations about rights and participation, including signposting to participation groups, advocacy services and online advice and support
From school year 11
- Nurturing relationships and connections with family, friends and community, including an explicit focus on these relationships and connections during life after care (which are the relationships which will last)
- More advanced money management and financial education focused on independent living after leaving care – savings, budgeting, paying bills, claiming benefits (signposting to more detailed online guidance and training)
- Exploring Further/Higher Education, employment and training goals and opportunities, and what is needed to achieve those goals
- Planning for housing options post-18, based on individual needs, goals and circumstances, including making sure the young person understands what all the options available are to them and what they mean in practice for them
- Advice, guidance and support to keep safe at home, online, and in the community, making sure the young person knows who they can turn to if they don’t feel safe
- Advice, guidance and support to keep physically, mentally and emotionally healthy and well, signposting to online self-help guidance as well as universal and targeted health services where necessary
- Continuing conversations with young people about personal identity and sense of belonging – advice, guidance and signposting to local groups and online spaces
- Continuing conversations with young people about their rights and opportunities for participation – advice, guidance and signposting to local groups and online spaces
From age 17+
- Involving family, friends and community in the young person’s transition to adulthood
- Ongoing advice, guidance and support around money management and financial education while living independently
- Signposting to careers advice, opportunities for care-experienced young people, and wrap-around support for further/higher education inclusion
- Ongoing advice, guidance and support around housing options post 18, including signposting to targeted services if at risk of homelessness
- Advice, guidance and support on keeping physically, mentally and emotionally healthy and well, signposting to universal and targeted health services for care-experienced young adults
- Continuing conversations about personal identity and sense of belonging – advice, guidance and signposting to local groups and online spaces
- Continuing conversations about rights and opportunities for participation – advice, guidance and signposting to local groups and online spaces
