Care Leavers Law

The law says that: 

We have to give all our former relevant care leavers a Leaving Care Support Officer (LCSO). You might see this being called a ‘personal advisor’ (PA) in other places.

You will have a named LCSO between the ages of 18 and 21.  

Your LCSO needs to be in touch with you every eight weeks.  

Your LCSO will complete a pathway plan with you and identify how best we can give you advice and support. Your pathway plan supports your independence into adulthood. It outlines your needs, views and future goals and sets out what support you will receive from us to achieve them. Your pathway plan

Needs to be reviewed every six months.  

After 21, you can ‘opt out’ from our support if you want.  

If you opt out, we have to keep in touch with you every year around your birthday until you are 25 to see if there is anything you would like help with.  

Under our extended offer you can continue to contact us for help and advice as many times as you need to up to your 25th birthday. We will work with you and depending on what is needed, provide you with an LCSO and pathway plan.  Our support ends when you turn 25.

Qualifying care leavers are not automatically entitled to an LCSO or pathway plan, however, if you want support we will provide you advice and assistance.