Staying Close (help for care leavers moving to their own home)

How it works

Support to get started

We know that as you move on from a children's home, being able to still live close to places and people you know can help you feel good and make sure you are supported with everyday life. With Staying Close, you can try out living on your own for 12 months. It's usually in a small flat or house that we set up for you and while you are there you still get the support from staff who know you. This helps you to learn how to be more independent before you move on fully into your own home.

We will agree with you what sort of things we will support you with and how many hours of support you get. The most support we offer is 18.5 hours each week, and we will work out a plan with you to reduce this as the 12 months goes on. Help to learn how to live independently includes:

• how to manage your own property
• how to look after yourself
• how to stay in education or training
• how to manage money, like sticking to a budget and paying your own bills
• how to stay safe where you live

First step: We need you to be doing, or have already done an Independent Living Skills Programme at your children's home. This will help you learn some of the basic skills you need when you're in your own home, such as cooking for yourself or sticking to a budget, we will help you keep building on these skills when you move.

Second step: If you and your care team feel you are ready for your own home then we work together on your Independence Plan, which looks in more detail at the support you need. The people making this decision with you will be your children's home staff, your social worker, your young people's advisor and any other important adults you have in your life.

Third step: If you and your care team do decide that Staying Close would work well for you then your social worker takes all of the information to a meeting called a Placement Resource Panel so that senior managers can consider whether they agree this is right for you. This is because we have a duty to make sure you will be safe and your needs will be met, where you live.

Moving out

Finding somewhere to live

There are lots of things to consider when you move out of your children's home. Where you want to live is one of them.

Our Staying Close Co-ordinator will come and meet with you, and a member of staff, to talk about where you might be able to live. They will then visit the property that has been chosen, to check if the surrounding area and the property itself are suitable.  If we are happy that it might work for you, then we will arrange for you to visit and decide if you would like to live there.

Getting ready to move out

Before you move out, you need to read through and sign a tenancy agreement. Your children's home manager will work with you to do this, making sure you understand exactly what is expected of you as part of that agreement and going over the support you will get. This is a really important part of the process and we recommend that you take advice either from a National Youth Advocate Service (NYAS) advocate or an adult you trust before signing this agreement.

How quickly you can move out

We understand that every young person is different and realise that moving into a property on your own is a big step to take. You might want to move out straight away or do it gradually, where you build up the number of days and nights you spend in your new property to get used to things. You can normally keep your bedroom at your children's home for up to two weeks before you move out fully and your social worker and staff at your children's home will discuss this with you.

After you've moved out

You're not on your own

Your support plan will start as soon as you've moved out, and because you have helped put it together, you will know exactly which days and times staff will be coming round to see you or ringing you. You will know what tasks they will be supporting you with, but do not worry, we know that sometimes you might need them to support you with something unexpected - such as arranging an appointment or dealing with paying a bill.

As well as staff from your children's home supporting you, you might have also chosen another trusted adult to help you, so they will be keeping in touch and you will receive ongoing support from your Young People's Advisor (YPA) and social worker. Your social worker must visit you at least once every four to six weeks, but they are likely to be popping in more often when you first move in, to make sure you are settling in OK.

Your accommodation provider (landlord) will also be offering you at least one hour every week of their time, to offer advice and support around tenancy-related issues, such as any repairs that may be needed.

Reducing your support over time

You will meet up every two months with your Staying Close Co-ordinator and all those supporting you, to have a chat about how things are going and see if you need more or less support to help you get settled. Most young people find that they need less support as time goes on and this is natural as you become more independent.

If you and everyone else feels you need it, then your support can stay in place for 12 months. The amount of time you get will not be more than 18.5 hours for the first six months and not more than nine hours in the second six months. Even though the formal support ends after a year, you're not on your own after that time. Your children's home staff and important people will still be around for phone calls, to offer advice and listen to any news you have to share.

Moving on after the Staying Close programme ends

Staying Close will officially end after 12 months but during that time, we will have been carefully planning with you where you will have your own property and hopefully you will feel ready to set up your own home.