Care leaver status

You're an eligible care leaver if:

  • you're currently looked after; and
  • aged 16 or 17; and
  • you've been looked after for a period of 13 weeks, or periods amounting to 13 weeks, which began after you reached the age of 14 and ended after you reached the age of 16

You're a relevant care leaver if:

  • you're no longer being looked after by the council but you've been 'eligible'; and
  • aged 16 or 17 years old
  • immediately before being detained or in hospital you were 'eligible' or
  • lived for a continuous period of 6 months or more with a parent, someone with parental responsibility and where those arrangements broke down

You're a former relevant care leaver if:

  • you're aged between 18 and 25 years and were a 'relevant' or 'eligible' child before turning 18 years old
  • if your case was closed, in agreement with yourself, between the ages of 21 and 25 years and you want to have your case re-opened
  • if you're in an agreed programme of education or training that ends after your 25th birthday

You're a qualifying care leaver if:

  • you're at least 16 years old but under 21 years old and:
  • you were looked after immediately prior to the making of a special guardianship order which was in force when you reached 18 years old; or
  • if at any time after you reached the age of 16 you're no longer looked after, accommodated or fostered; or
  • you were privately fostered and assessed to be in need
  • as a qualifying care leaver you're able to access advice and assistance based on a needs assessment completed by the Leaving Care Team