Accommodation
Children (Leaving Care) Act 2000
Click to access the Children (Leaving Care) Act 2000 [opens in new window].
The housing of some 16 to 17-year-olds will be the responsibility of social services under the terms of the Children (Leaving Care) Act 2000.
Under the Act, social services are given a clear responsibility for:
- eligible children – 16 to 17-year-olds still in care, looked after for at least 13 weeks since the age of 14
- relevant children – 16 to 17-year-olds who have left care, but were looked after for at least 13 weeks from the age of 14 and for sometime while 16/17
- former relevant children – 18 to 21-year-olds formerly eligible/relevant children.
Social services have a duty to undertake the following in respect of eligible and relevant children:
- develop a ‘pathway plan’ by the young person’s sixteenth birthday
- assess and meet needs
- provide financial support
- provide the services of a personal adviser
- ensure the young person has access to suitable accommodation – this includes the provision and maintenance of accommodation, unless social services are satisfied that the welfare of the young person does not require it. The accommodation provided must be reasonably practical for the young person’s needs. Bed-and-breakfast accommodation is considered acceptable only in an emergency and the authority must be satisfied as to suitability of the landlord and should not expect 16 to 17-year-olds to sustain accommodation without support
- stay in touch. If a young person has to move to another area, the placing area will retain responsibility for the young person, but may transfer the funding arrangements to another authority.