Frequently Asked Questions

Questions:

1. How is status/aftercare service affected by returning home? 
2. Does my legal status affect the money I get?
3. Who makes the decisions?
4. What if I move out of the area?
5. What if I am a parent?
6. What if I don’t want a service?
7. What about other stuff that you haven’t thought of here?
8. What is The Law governing Aftercare?
9. How do I make a complaint?
10. What is my Legal Status?
11. What Financial Information is available?
12. What is a Pathway Plan?
    

Answers:

1. How is status/aftercare service affected by returning home?

This depends on when you return home and your legal status at the time:

• Return home under placement with parents: If you go back to live with your family while you are still on a care-order, this is called ‘placement with parents’. Placement with parents does not affect Aftercare entitlement. You remain eligible until your care-order ends at 18 and then you become former relevant. For further information see the Eligible Child
• Return home aged 16/17 and section 20: If you go back to live with your family aged 16 or 17 and you were previously s20 eligible, you become relevant. You remain relevant for 6 months and then your Aftercare entitlement changes to qualifying. For further information see Relevant Child and Qualifying Child
• What happens if things don’t work out at home? If the situation changes before you are 18 and you need to move out, your status would go back to relevant until you became 18 when it would change to former relevant. If you need to move out after 18, you remain qualifying but can still get advice and guidance from aftercare by contacting us. For further information see Former Relevant Child and Qualifying Child
• If your care order is revoked and you return home, as long as this happens after the age of 16, the process is the same as above. You are relevant for the first 6 months and then change to qualifying. For further information see Relevant Child and Qualifying Child
• If you return to live with your parents AFTER you have turned 18 and are former relevant, your status does not change. For further information please see Former Relevant Child

2. Does my legal status affect the money I get?

If you are not working and are living independently, you are entitled to some financial support. Where this comes from again depends on your legal status:

• If you are 16/17 relevant, Aftercare pay a weekly subsistence allowance and your rent.
• If you are 16/17 eligible, on a care-order but living independently, the financial duties remain with your children and families team. They will pay you a subsistence allowance and your rent.
• If you are over 18 and former relevant, you will be entitled to claim either income support or JSA and housing benefit.

For further information see the Financial Section

Whether your money comes from Children and Families, Aftercare or the benefits system, the amount you receive stays the same.

3. Who makes the decisions?

As a young adult, the most important person in the decision making process is you. However, there are times when people disagree about the best way forward and who has the final say again depends on your legal status. The decision maker is the main case-holding team:

• Eligible – Children & Families
• Relevant – Aftercare
• Former relevant – Once you are 18, no one from social services has the final say in things like accommodation or finance. These responsibilities are passed over to the benefits agency and local housing councils. However, Aftercare can help you get things sorted and liaise between the different agencies.
• Qualifying – If you are qualifying, the responsibilities are again held by benefits agency/housing etc. Aftercare can help with making applications and support to find out what you are entitled to.

4. What if I move out of the area?

• If you choose to live outside of Worcestershire, Worcestershire County Council Aftercare team still have the same responsibilities as they would if you were living within Worcestershire. Sometimes, it is difficult to be able to meet a young person’s needs effectively because of distance and in these cases; WCC would look to link in with the local Aftercare service and ask them to work on our behalf. If you want to live outside of the county that is your choice, and your 16+ (Social) Worker will try and support you, but remember, you will not have a ‘local connection’ everywhere and this might affect your housing entitlement. Also, 16+ (Social) Workers know a lot about services and resources in Worcestershire but won’t be so knowledgeable about other areas of the country, so think carefully about your move and make sure you do lots of research first!

5. What if I am a parent?

• If you get pregnant whilst eligible or relevant, the responsibilities to find housing and provide an income switch from social services to housing and benefits agencies at 26 weeks. Your 16+ (Social) Worker would be able to support you to make the right applications to the right places and ensure you receive what you are entitled to. 
•  Even though your money may come from a different source, you remain the same status e.g. eligible/relevant and your Aftercare service remains the same e.g. you have an 16+ (Social) Worker and a pathway plan.

6. What if I don’t want a service?

• This is your choice. No-one can force you to have an Aftercare service. Because we have a legal duty to offer you a service and ‘keep in touch’ if you don’t want this, you will be asked to sign an opt-out declaration.
• You remain entitled to an Aftercare service until your 21^st birthday, so if you change your mind at any time, you can give us a ring and support will start again.
• Remember, opting-out of a service does not change your legal status and the duties that different agencies have towards you e.g. if you are relevant and ‘opt-out’ this does not mean that you would then be able to claim benefits because the financial duty for relevant young people still remains with children's services.

7. What about other stuff that you haven’t thought of here?

If you have any questions that haven’t been covered, the answer is simple: Call Aftercare and ask! Our free phone number is: 0800 587 2119. First point of call would be your 16+ (Social) Worker (if you have already been referred) but if you don’t have an 16+ (Social) Worker, ask to speak to the duty worker.