Once a looked after child turns 18, they become a care leaver and no longer have a social worker. They are allocated a Leaving Care Advisor (LCA), who supports their transition to independent adulthood and works with the young person until they are 25. LCAs ensure a multi-agency approach to supporting vulnerable young people or those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
They provide the following support regardless of whether the young person is in education, training or employment:
Pathway Plan Management
LCAs maintain and regularly review the young person’s pathway plan, which outlines their goals and the support that they need, for example, education and employment, health and wellbeing, accommodation, financial management, relationships and social support.
Practical Life Skills
LCAs also help to develop the young person’s independent living skills such as budgeting, cooking, applying for benefits, finding and maintaining housing.
Emotional and Advocacy Support
LCAs provide a listening ear and help the young person to navigate challenges they may face. LCAs also support with arranging access to mental health services, advocacy and other specialist support.
Regular Contact
LCAs are expected to meet with their young person at least once every two months, however, depending on the young person’s needs, this can be more frequent.
Personal Education Plans (PEPs)
Although these are not statutory, the LCA is expected to encourage the young person to attend their PEP meetings whilst in year 13, as the Virtual School is still involved in terms of education. At the last PEP for that year, the LCA is expected to provide the Year 14 pathway for the Virtual School records.