9. Support for Specific Groups
Over 21 Years Old
Oldham Council has a clear offer to support all Care Leavers up to the age of 25.
We will gradually ‘step-down’ the service to you as and when you need us less.
We recognise that:
- The level of support each Care Leaver will need will differ depending on their circumstances
- Some Care Leavers may face a number of continuing challenges and require support access across different aspects of their lives, and some may return for support due to a specific issue
- Some Care Leavers may not want or require support on an ongoing basis, so they can stop accessing support until they would like further assistance. We recognise that circumstances change.
What we will do:
- The PA that supports you from 17 to 20 years old will discuss with you whether you need to receive support beyond age 21
- If you do want PA support to continue, your Pathway Plan will be reviewed and updated.
- Support will continue for as long as you request it, up to the age of 25.
- You can request PA support at any point between the ages of 21 and 25; this includes any Care Leaver who may have earlier declined the offer of PA support.
Care Leavers with a disability
A disabled Care Leaver has the same rights as any other Care Leaver. Between the ages of 16 and 18 we will start the transition process from Children’s to Adult Services. Your Social Worker will present at the Transitions Hub where the transitional services will be agreed and formalised.
We can support you to access independent advocacy if you would like this.
Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Young People
- We will provide equal opportunities for young people who have come to the UK from other countries, as far as the law permits.
- If you have an ongoing asylum claim that may affect your entitlements to benefits and financial support, even once you are over 18 years old, we will provide financial support until your asylum claim is determined. Speak to your PA for more information.
- Unaccompanied asylum-seeking young people who have been granted leave to remain only until they are 17 ½ or 18 years old should be supported to ask their legal representative if an application for further leave to remain can be applied for before the original period of leave granted expires.
- You will only be able to claim benefits after your 18th birthday if you have made an application for further leave to remain before the original period of leave has expired.
- If you are entitled to apply for British Citizenship before the age of 18 then we will support you to do this. This also applies if you are an EU citizen, we will support your application for naturalisation.
- If you have exhausted all your immigration appeal rights and you are unlawfully present in the United Kingdom, you will not be able to claim welfare benefits after your 18th birthday. It may become unlawful for the Council to continue to support you financially. We will carry out an assessment to decided whether that is the case.
- If you turn 25 while awaiting the outcome of your asylum claim, then you’ll be referred to another service, such as the National Asylum Support Service, which supports young people to apply for financial assistance and suitable accommodation.
LGBTQ+
We are committed to the genuine acceptance of difference and the right for everyone to be who they are and who they wish to be.
We will support young people to access specialist groups such as the LGBTQ+ Youth In Care organisation and intend to work with you to source your own support within our own care leaver network.
Custody
If you are in custody and eligible for services, we will keep in touch with you and work with professionals to ensure you are supported whilst in custody, as you prepare for release and upon release, we will ensure you are in suitable accommodation and have access to education, employment and training opportunities at all times.
Armed Forces
If you join the Armed Forces, we will make sure that we keep in touch with you and will support you, with postal boxes each month, with some of your favourite treats.