How long can staying put foster care continue?
A staying put arrangement can usually continue until the young person turns 21, provided they and their former foster carer agree to it. It may continue beyond 21 by mutual agreement, but the local authority’s staying put support and financial arrangements may change or end, so the position should be reviewed before the young person reaches that age.
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In England, the period up to a young person’s 21st birthday is the usual statutory framework for a Staying Put arrangement, but the arrangement is not an automatic extension of foster care. It must be agreed and planned with the young person, former foster carer and local authority, with the arrangements recorded clearly.
The young person’s pathway plan should set out how Staying Put will support their transition to independence. This should include their accommodation, education or training, health, practical skills, relationships, financial planning and longer-term housing. The plan should be reviewed as circumstances change rather than treating the arrangement as fixed until a particular date.
Staying Put may end before the young person reaches 21 if:
- the young person decides they want to move on;
- the former foster carer can no longer provide the arrangement;
- the household circumstances change;
- the arrangement is no longer suitable or safe; or
- both parties agree that a different housing or support option is more appropriate.
An early ending should be planned wherever possible. The local authority and personal adviser should consider the young person’s next accommodation, belongings, finances, education or work, and continuing support. Ending Staying Put should not mean that all leaving-care assistance ends at the same time.
Once the young person reaches 21, the arrangement is no longer a statutory Staying Put arrangement. The former foster carer may still allow the young person to remain by private agreement, but the legal duties, funding and practical expectations may be different. A young person should not assume that the same allowance or financial contribution will continue. The household should discuss rent or other contributions, bills, privacy, responsibilities, visitors and the likely duration of any post-21 arrangement.
Leaving-care support can continue beyond 21 in relevant circumstances, particularly where a young person needs help with education or training. This does not necessarily provide a right to remain in the former foster home, so accommodation planning should take place before the Staying Put period comes to an end.
There can also be complications where a young person leaves and later wants to return. Returning is not automatically guaranteed, because the former foster carer’s circumstances, the household relationship and the availability of local-authority support may have changed. Any proposed return should be assessed and agreed rather than assumed.
The exact position can depend on the young person’s care and leaving-care status, the terms of the local authority’s policy and the circumstances of the former foster carer. A review with the social worker, personal adviser and fostering service well before the expected end date helps prevent uncertainty and gives everyone time to agree the next step.
The phrase “Staying Put” refers specifically to the English leaving-care framework, so the rules should not automatically be applied across the whole of the UK. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland use different arrangements and terminology, with their own eligibility criteria, funding rules and end points.
If the young person was looked after by an English local authority, the relevant social worker or personal adviser should confirm which policy applies and whether the arrangement is formally recognised as Staying Put. This is particularly important if the young person moves between local authority areas, changes their care or education circumstances, or the former foster carer lives outside England. The written plan should identify the responsible authority and explain how the arrangement will be reviewed as the young person approaches its agreed end.
Talk to us about staying put arrangements
Contact our team to discuss your circumstances and the next steps for understanding a staying put arrangement. We can help you identify the questions to raise with the relevant local authority, personal adviser and fostering service.