Leaving care

Since the implementation of the Children (Leaving Care) Act 2000 many authorities are coming to terms with the individual and strategic demands of providing key services to young people who are often isolated, vulnerable and difficult to deal with when they leave care. With legislation that allows for so much local interpretation, and leaving care teams which often consist of staff from a variety of disciplines, the Act brought with it new challenges as well as new opportunities.This course examines how the Act impacts on day-to-day practice. It looks at the role of the personal advisor, entitlements and rights for young people, working with other agencies, and links to the Assessment Framework.

Learning outcomes cover:

• The impact of the legislation and the duties and responsibilities of the local authority.
• The successes and failures of the public care system.
• Awareness about care issues and challenges that affect young people leaving care.
• Awareness about what services exist and what needs further development.
• Positive multi-agency and inter-agency approaches.
• Developing strategies to address the issues raised by new legislation and how to use it to the advantage of the young people.