What independent advice can young people access before leaving care?

Independent advice before leaving care means confidential guidance from someone who is separate from the organisation making decisions about a young person’s care. It can help them understand their rights, check whether plans are suitable, prepare for meetings, and decide what to do if they disagree with a decision or feel their views have not been heard.

What an independent adviser can help with

• Explaining the young person’s care and leaving-care rights in clear, practical language.
• Helping them prepare for reviews, pathway-planning meetings and other discussions about their future.
• Checking that their wishes, strengths, needs and concerns have been properly recorded.
• Explaining the difference between a legal entitlement, a local policy and discretionary support.
• Helping them ask for a decision to be reconsidered or make a formal complaint.
• Supporting them to understand documents before they agree to a plan.
• Advising on consent, confidentiality and who information may be shared with.

An adviser should not make decisions for the young person. Their role is to provide information, help them express their views and support them to take part in decisions affecting their life. A young person can usually ask for an advocate to attend a meeting with them or help them communicate in writing.

Sources of independent advice

Support may be available through a children’s rights or advocacy service, a local advice centre, a solicitor or a specialist charity. A young person can ask their social care team, school, college, health professional or trusted adult how to make a referral, but they can also contact an advice service directly where that service accepts self-referrals. Foster carers can help by offering practical support without taking control of the process.

Where a legal issue is involved, such as a dispute about care arrangements, accommodation, contact or a public body’s decision, a young person may need advice from a solicitor who understands children’s social care law. An advice worker can explain whether legal advice is appropriate and whether the young person may be entitled to help with legal costs. Legal advice is different from general advocacy: a solicitor can advise on the law and represent someone in formal proceedings where appropriate.

How to prepare for an advice appointment

It is useful to write down the questions that need answering and gather relevant letters, plans, review notes and emails. The young person can ask the adviser to explain unfamiliar terms, outline the available options and confirm what will happen next. If reading, communication, language or accessibility needs make this difficult, they should ask for reasonable adjustments, such as information in an alternative format or extra support during a meeting.

A young person may also want to record:

• what decision they are concerned about;
• what outcome they would prefer;
• which parts of a plan they agree or disagree with;
• any deadlines for responding or appealing;
• the names and roles of people involved; and
• what evidence or information could support their view.

Confidentiality and consent

Independent advice is normally private, although confidentiality has limits where there is a serious safeguarding concern or a legal duty to share information. The adviser should explain these limits before discussing personal details. A young person can ask what will be written down, who will receive it and whether they will be shown a copy. They can also ask whether a trusted person may attend the appointment.

Young people should not be discouraged from seeking advice because they are worried it will cause trouble or affect their care. Asking for help, challenging a decision or making a complaint is a legitimate way to participate in their care planning. An advocate can help them raise concerns constructively and ensure that their position is represented accurately.

If advice identifies a problem

The first step may be to ask for an explanation or request that information in a plan is corrected. If that does not resolve the issue, the adviser can help the young person use the local authority’s complaints procedure, request a review or obtain legal advice. Keeping copies of correspondence and noting meeting dates can make it easier to follow progress. The young person should ask for any agreed action to be confirmed in writing, including who is responsible and when it will be reviewed.

Independent advice works best when it starts early enough for the young person to understand their options and contribute meaningfully to decisions. It should continue at a pace that suits them, with explanations revisited when circumstances change. Foster carers can support this by encouraging questions, helping the young person attend appointments and respecting their right to receive advice privately.