Accommodation

The transition to independent living, whether from a home setting or from a looked after placement, is a key milestone and can be a life-changing event for the young person.

The provision of accommodation which meets the young person’s needs will make a difference to how successful this transition is. This transition should be carefully planned in advance through the Pathways process and it should not, wherever possible, be a reaction to other issues in the young person’s life, such as a placement breakdown. 

Young people should feel fully supported to remain either at home or in their care placement as long as this is in their best interests. Anecdotal evidence demonstrates that moving to independence too soon can have serious and damaging consequences for young people and can contribute to an unsettled future lifestyle with significant costs for all involved.

Preparation for the point where a young person is no longer looked after is crucial. This preparation is a duty for all local authorities and the positive impact of this work cannot be underestimated.

Local authorities will want to satisfy themselves that young people are at a point in their lives where they have the necessary life skills and confidence to cope with the move towards independence and that the levels of support that they need to positively sustain any move are available.

Some young people will need more support than others and a range of services will need to be in place to address these differences.