There are four categories of care leavers:
- Eligible
- Relevant
- Former relevant
- Qualifying.
You would be an eligible young person if:
You are aged 16/17 and currently a child in care and you have been in care for a period of 13 weeks (of episodes which add up to 13 weeks) since your 14th birthday and at least one day whilst you were 16 or 17 years of age.
Please note: Children looked after who are subject to a Care Order but return home to a parent or someone with parental responsibility remain looked after and eligible.
You would be a relevant young person if:
You are no longer being cared for by the local authority but you have been eligible and you are 16/17 years old, or…
Were detained in custody (due to a court order) or in hospital but were looked after immediately prior to detention for a period of at least 13 weeks which began after the age of 14.
Please note: If you are not subject to a Care Order and return home to a parent or a person with parental responsibility for a period of six months or more you will lose your relevant status. If this arrangement breaks down before you are 18 and you stop living with your parent then you will be treated as a relevant child.
You would be a former relevant young person if:
You are aged 18 or above and immediately before you reached 18, you were or had been a relevant or eligible care leaver, or…
At 21 or before the age of 25 you either continue to be on an agreed course of full time education and/or training and wish to continue to receive a service, or…
After 21 and before the age of 25 you can return to service requesting support and advice which require a pathway plan be developed.
You would be a qualifying young person if:
You are aged at least 16 but under 21 and you were a looked after young person prior to the making of a Special Guardianship Order, or if at any time after you reached the age of 16, you were looked after for a period of less than 13 weeks and have not returned home, or…
At age 16/17 you were an eligible child but were living with a parent for more than six months before you reached the age of 18 (unless you were there under a Care Order).