Leaving CareTeam

RBWM Leaving Care Service has a team of 6 staff working with over 70 adolescents, including unaccompanied minors. The service supports young people aged 16 to 21 (25 if in university) who are/have been looked after by RMWM Children's service.

To be entitled to support from the Leaving Care Service the young person must have been accommodated for a period of at least 13 weeks, since their 14th birthday. The term 'looked after' refers to children who have usually been accommodated under Section 20 or Section 31 of the Children Act 1989 and are often placed with foster families or specialised residential placements.Young people leaving the care of the local authority are supported in all aspects of their lives and the team does it's best to be a 'corporate parent'. Needs are identified through the use of a pathway plan and include areas such as accommodation, health, education, employment, financial, social and emotional support.

The individual workers hold a 'case load' of young people and work closely with them to ensure that they receive opportunities to improve life chances.

The service supports young people getting ready for independent living, which they will have to do at a younger age then many of their peers. The service offers financial and practical support for young people to gain their own tenancy and will assist them to manage this difficult transition up to the age of 21. If the young person attends university the support will continue till they reach 24.

Research has shown that young people leaving care are vulnerable and are over represented in areas such as homelessness, teenage pregnancy and youth crime. It is the aim that the Leaving Care Service offer opportunities and support that will give the best possible life chances to young people leaving local authority care.

The Leaving care Team is based at

The Project Centre,

Reform Road,

Maidenhead,

Berkshire.

Telephone 01628 683281.

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