The Legal Stuff
Types of Care Leavers:
You are an ELIGIBLE care leaver if:
- You are currently looked after; and
- Aged 16 or 17; and
- You have been looked after for a period of 13 weeks (or periods) amounting to 13 weeks) which began after you reached 14 and ended after you reached 16
You are a RELEVANT care leaver if:
- You are no longer being looked after by the Local Authority but you have been 'Eligible'; and
- Aged 16 or 17 years old;
- Immediately before being detained or in hospital you were 'Eligible' OR
- Lived for continious period of 6 months or more with parent, someone with parental responsibility and where those arrangements break down
You are a FORMER RELEVANT care leaver if:
- You are aged 18 years or above, and either have been a Relevant or Eligible child when under 18
- If at the age of 21 or before reaching the age of 25 you are in education or training, then you will remain a former relevant child until the end of that agreed programme
- If after 21 years you inform us that you want to pursue or are pursuing a programme of education or training
You are a QUALIFYING care leaver if:
- You are at least 16 but under 21; and
- You were looked after immediately prior to the making of a special guardianship order which was in force when you reached 18; or
- If at any time, after you reached the age of 16 but while you were still a child was, but is no longer looked after, accommodated or fostered; or
- As a Qualifying Care Leaver you are able to access advice and assistane based on a needs assessment completed by the Leaving and After Care Team
The Law Society can be used to find an accredited solicitor: