Quality statement 8: Support to move to independence | Looked-after children and young people | Quality standards

Quality statement

Care leavers move to independence at their own pace.

Rationale

The transition to adulthood can be difficult for young people in care. As with all young people, those leaving care value being able to move to independence at their own pace. This needs effective pathway planning and discussions.

Services designed for young people and delivered by friendly, approachable professionals can help young people find practical and emotional support and advice, at the right time, to prepare for independence.

Quality measures

The following measures can be used to assess the quality of care or service provision specified in the statement. They are examples of how the statement can be measured, and can be adapted and used flexibly.

Structure

a) Evidence of local arrangements to ensure pathway planning is responsive to the needs of young people preparing to leave care and equips them with the skills they need to live independently.

Data source: No routinely collected national data for this measure has been identified. Data can be collected from information recorded locally by health and social care professionals and provider organisations.

b) Evidence of local arrangements to ensure that care leavers are given the option to remain in a stable foster home or residential home beyond the age of 18, and to return to the care of the local authority, including their previous placement (if possible), if they experience difficulty in moving to live independently.

Data source: No routinely collected national data for this measure has been identified. Data can be collected from information recorded locally by health and social care professionals and provider organisations.

c) Evidence that a range of accommodation and support is available for care leavers.

Data source: No routinely collected national data for this measure has been identified. Data can be collected from information recorded locally by health and social care professionals and provider organisations.

Outcome

a) Feedback from care leavers that they felt supported to move to live independently at their own pace.

Data source: No routinely collected national data for this measure has been identified. Data can be collected from information recorded locally by health and social care professionals and provider organisations, for example from patient records and surveys.

b) Care leaver satisfaction with their accommodation.

Data source: No routinely collected national data for this measure has been identified. Data can be collected from information recorded locally by health and social care professionals and provider organisations, for example from patient records.

c) Accommodation status of young people leaving care.

Data source: No routinely collected national data for this measure has been identified. Data can be collected from information recorded locally by health and social care professionals and provider organisations.

What the quality statement means for different audiences

Service providers (organisations providing care) ensure arrangements are in place to develop responsive pathway plans with young people preparing to live independently, and that young people have continued access to and support from services to ensure that they move to independence at their own pace.

Health and social care practitioners and education staff develop responsive pathway plans with young people preparing to live independently and offer continued access to and support from services to ensure that they move to independence at their own pace.

Commissioners (for example, local authorities) ensure they commission services that develop responsive pathway plans with young people preparing to live independently, and that provide continued access to and support to ensure care leavers move to independence at their own pace.

Young people leaving care have a pathway plan that prepares them for leaving care and have continued access to and support from services to ensure that they move to independence at their own pace.

Source guidance

Looked-after children and young people. NICE guideline NG205 (2021), recommendations 1.8.1, 1.8.3, 1.8.4, 1.8.5, 1.8.6, 1.8.10. 1.8.11, 1.8.12 and 1.8.14

Definitions of terms used in this quality statement

Carers

Carers include foster carers (including family and friends carers), residential carers and supported lodging providers. [Adapted from NICE's guideline on looked-after children and young people, and expert opinion]

Pathway plan

A pathway plan must be prepared for all eligible children and continued for all relevant and former relevant children. Each young person's pathway plan must include their care plan and how each young person will be provided with the services they need to enable them to make a successful transition to adulthood. [Adapted from Department for Education's Children Act 1989 guidance and regulations volume 2: care planning, placement and case review]

Range of housing options

Semi-independent and independent accommodation options for care leavers that might include:

enabling young people to remain in the accommodation in which they lived whilst being looked after, for example by converting a foster placement to a post-18 arrangement or supported lodgings
supported lodgings, other than with former carers
foyers and other supported housing, combining accommodation with support and opportunities for education, training and employment
trainer flats where young people can practice living more independently without compromising their future housing options
specialist accommodation, for example self-contained accommodation with personal assistance support, or therapeutic placements for young people with specific support needs
independent accommodation in the social or private rented sectors, with flexible floating support as needed
living with birth families.

[Adapted from Department for Education's Children Act 1989 guidance and regulations volume 3: transition to adulthood for care leavers]

Skills to live independently

Problem-solving skills and practical skills, including life skills such as financial literacy, budgeting and household management. [NICE's guideline on looked-after children and young people, recommendation 1.8.3]

Equality and diversity considerations

Some groups of young people may need additional support in leaving care, such as young people with physical or learning disabilities, unaccompanied asylum seekers, children with special education needs and children with speech, language and communication difficulties.