What support do foster carers receive during the Foster Care 18–21 Programme?

Support during the Foster Care 18–21 Programme is usually coordinated between the foster carer, the fostering service, the young adult’s social care team and their personal adviser. Its purpose is to help the arrangement remain safe, stable and suitable while the young adult develops the skills needed for greater independence.

Support from the fostering service

The foster carer normally continues to have access to a supervising social worker or equivalent fostering professional. Their role may include helping the carer interpret the plan for the arrangement, discuss concerns about relationships or behaviour, identify further training and make sure the carer understands their responsibilities. They can also help the carer distinguish between ordinary disagreements in a shared home and issues that require formal action.

Support can include advice on:

• maintaining appropriate boundaries while recognising that the young adult is no longer a child;
• managing household routines, visitors, privacy and use of shared spaces;
• responding to changes in education, employment, health or emotional wellbeing;
• encouraging independence without withdrawing appropriate support too quickly; and
• recording and reporting concerns in line with the agreed plan.

Support from the young adult’s professional network

The young adult should have a personal adviser who helps them work towards their pathway plan and longer-term goals. The personal adviser may coordinate support relating to accommodation, education, employment, benefits, health, identity documents, relationships and practical life skills. Foster carers may contribute relevant information, with the young adult’s privacy and consent respected wherever appropriate.

Clear communication between the personal adviser and the foster carer is important. It helps everyone understand who is responsible for particular tasks, what information can be shared and what should happen if circumstances change. The foster carer should not be expected to manage complex social care, health or safeguarding matters without professional involvement.

Reviews and problem-solving

The arrangement should be reviewed so that support remains relevant to the young adult’s circumstances. Reviews can consider whether the living arrangement is working, whether household expectations remain appropriate, what progress has been made and whether extra help is needed. The young adult’s views should be central, while the foster carer should have a proper opportunity to explain what is working and raise concerns.

Where difficulties arise, early discussion is generally more effective than waiting for a crisis. The supervising social worker or personal adviser may help the household agree practical changes, arrange additional services or update the plan. If there are concerns about safety, exploitation, abuse, neglect, self-harm or serious deterioration in wellbeing, these should be reported through the relevant safeguarding route without delay.

Training and advice for foster carers

Foster carers may need guidance that reflects the different legal and practical position of a young adult. Relevant learning can cover safeguarding, trauma and attachment, mental health, healthy relationships, independence skills, confidentiality, substance misuse and preparing for future accommodation. The exact support will depend on the young adult’s needs and the policies of the responsible fostering service.

Carers should ask for advice when they are unsure how to respond, rather than making significant changes to the arrangement alone. They should also keep professional records where required, attend agreed meetings and tell the fostering service or personal adviser about important changes affecting the young adult or the household.

Practical support and preparation for the next step

Support is not limited to keeping the current placement in place. It should also help the young adult build confidence with budgeting, cooking, appointments, travel, maintaining a home and seeking help. Foster carers may provide day-to-day encouragement and practical teaching, while specialist professionals address needs that fall outside the carer’s role.

The level and form of support should be set out in the written agreement for the arrangement. Before agreeing to continue, foster carers should ask who their main contacts are, how reviews will be arranged, what training is available, how concerns should be escalated and what happens if the arrangement needs to change. Understanding these arrangements gives the carer and young adult a clear framework for working together.