You and your support

This guide is here to help you understand the support available to you as a care leaver in Herefordshire including your rights to financial help and practical assistance.

We want you to know that support is still available even if you are in custody. You're not alone.

The Leaving Care Team is committed to making sure you feel supported every step of the way. That means knowing who to turn to and where to go when you need advice or help.

Who is eligible for support?

To access PA (personal adviser) support and the entitlements listed below you must be a 'former relevant care leaver' (The Children and Social Work Act 2017).

A former relevant care leaver is someone who has been in care for at least 13 weeks between the ages of 14 and 16 or they were in care for 13 weeks after their 16th Birthday.

Alternatively, if you do not meet the above criteria and you were in care for a different period (as a child) you may be a qualifying care leaver. If this is the case, then you can contact the Leaving Care Team for advice.

If you are over 25 and a Herefordshire Care Leaver please do still make contact with the team for advice and guidance.

Role of the personal adviser

Your personal adviser is here to support you from age 18 to 21 - and if you'd like, that support can continue until you're 25.

They'll visit you regularly while you're in custody and continue to do so once you're living in the community. These visits will happen at least every six weeks until you turn 21, and beyond that, in line with your pathway plan. We will also write to you and if you would like, we can send you a book or comic if you prefer once per month if you are interested.

Pathway planning

Your personal adviser will help you prepare for independent living by working with you to create a pathway plan. This plan outlines the support you need and your goals for the future.

If you enter custody, your pathway plan should be reviewed as soon as possible, and then every six months. With your consent, your personal adviser will also arrange a pathway plan meeting around two months before your release to help you prepare for life in the community. This will include professionals who are currently involved in supporting you and those who you need support from when you transition back into the community.

Your pathway plan will focus on key areas of your life and your entitlements.

Housing support

You're entitled to access the Setting Up Home Allowance (SUHA) until the age of 25.

Your personal adviser will help you explore the best housing options for your release. This may include working with our specialist housing personal advisor and completing a duty to refer, so a housing officer can be assigned to support you. This is especially important when you will be released to live in a place outside of Herefordshire.

Where appropriate, the specialist housing personal adviser will be invited to your pathway plan review to offer advice and guidance on available housing options.

Your personal adviser will also attend your HMPPS pre-release meeting.

If you return to the Herefordshire area after release and are considered tenancy-ready, you'll be given priority banding A on Homepoint as a care leaver. You will also be eligible for additional floating support to help you adjust to managing your tenancy and maintaining this for a period of up to one year.

Financial support while in custody

To support you with essential items, you'll receive £20 each month via postal order until you turn 25.

When you enter custody, you will be given a one-off payment of up to £100 as a clothing grant. You will also be eligible for a settling grant of £50 to help you settle in, for example to purchase a kettle and other items you need which are permittable.

If you have savings that were built up while you were in care, your personal adviser will help you access them when the time is right.

Education and employment support

When you enter custody, if you don't already have it, your personal advisor will set you up with a SEEDL account which enables you to access online learning via Herefordshire Council which can help increase your skills, knowledge and confidence to access further learning opportunities or work upon release.

As you approach your release date, you may be referred to Herefordshire's Youth Employment Hub. This will enable you to be matched with an officer to help devise a plan to support you to achieve your aspirations in education, training or employment.

To support your journey, you will be supported on release to access a laptop if you don't already have one to assist you in learning and developing employment skills.

Identification

While you're in custody, your personal adviser will help you access photo ID.

Family support

We understand how important family connections are. Up until the age of 21, we may be able to support your family to visit you in custody up to three times a year. This would be arranged in discussion with your personal adviser and included in your pathway planning.

Your personal adviser will also make sure you have the right travel arrangements and support in place for your release from custody.

Health and wellbeing

If you need additional support once you're back in the community and have care or support needs, your personal adviser can submit a referral to Adult Social Care (ASC) - but only with your consent.