Post 18 accommodation options

What options are available?

There's a number of possibilities, and remember, it is what best suits you. 

Supported lodgings

This is where you live in someone's home, they provide a safe and supportive place to live. The supported lodgings hosts will offer emotional and practical support, like cooking, and budgeting to help prepare you to live independently.

Return to family

It may be an option to return to living with family, this involves working with social workers and your personal adviser to enable you to re-establish links with your family and friends or build on the links you already have.

Staying put

Staying put is where you remain with your foster carers post 18, but your foster carer no longer acts as a foster carer. You will be treated as a young adult and your former foster carer will support you to develop your independent living skills. You will need to pay rent and board, but you may be able to get help from benefits.

Supported accommodation

There are numerous options in Staffordshire that we can support you with and you can be referred to. Options include shared housing, hostel style and YMCA's.

Tenancy

As a care leaver, you have a local connection until age 21 to each of the 8 districts in Staffordshire. You will be given a priority banding when you apply for the first time. Your PA will support you to complete applications, upload evidence and attend appointments.

Private renting

This is where you rent privately from a landlord, it can allow for more flexibility in location and timescale. Housing benefit / universal credit may not meet all the private rental costs and you would be required to find the rest of the rent. 

Staying put

Staying put is where a care leaver continues to live with their foster carer after their eighteenth birthday until you're 21 years old.

You can continue to live with people you know who have supported you growing up and you don't need to leave until you're ready, or 21 years. This gives you time to sort out issues you may face whilst moving into adulthood like education and training. It's more of a gradual transition.

Remember, both yourself and the foster carer will need to agree for this to work.

How long can I stay put?

You can stay put until you are 21. At pathway plan reviews always discuss if it is still right for you, plan for the future and different accommodation for you.

Are there any conditions to staying put?

No, the Local Authority has a legal duty to support all staying put arrangements, with the only exception being it's not in your welfare. Staying put should be discussed with you and your foster carer as soon as it is agreed that you stay with them, unless it is not in your best interest to do so at that time.

What does the local authority have to do to make it happen?

• 8 weekly visits from the personal adviser
• Confirm practical arrangements - e.g. length of stay
• Expectation and financial planning
• 'Staying put' meetings done 4 weeks prior.

Moving on

The arrangement is until your twenty first birthday. You may feel you are ready to move on before this, and moving can be discussed at each review. You should have a backup plan, should the arrangement suddenly end.

What's the difference between fostering and staying put?

Fostering

• You are under 18 years of age and looked after
• You have a placement plan setting out expectations
• The Local Authority pay the carer to cover the costs of food and clothing
• You cannot claim benefits
• Fostering regulations apply
• If you have committed offences, there may be an assessment to manage that in placement
• You will receive birthday and Christmas allowances.

Staying put

• You are over 18 / an adult and a care leaver
• A living agreement is written with help from a personal adviser
• You are expected to start learning and practicing skills to live independently
• You may be able to claim benefits
• You will have a DBS check done

Set out the rules and expectations of living together in a stay put agreement, this is different from your placement plan as it's between adults based on respect for each other and the needs of you and your carer. Any concerns around keeping you safe are highlighted.

Questions to consider to help to make the placement work

• Can I smoke in the home?
• Can I have friends over? Can they stay overnight?
• Can anyone enter your room?
• Do you need to let the carer know where you are and who you're with?
• Do you have a key to the house?
• What happens when the carer goes away?
• What are the household task expectations?

Keep communication open and let your thoughts and feelings be known, don't let things get too serious and discuss with a worker as soon as possible.

Supported lodgings

 What are supported lodgings?

It offers you the chance to live in a family environment where you can learn skills to live independently. The host will support you with practical skills such as cooking, cleaning and budgeting.

How does it work?

You rent a room from the host. Speak to your social worker or personal adviser if you want to look at this option for your accommodation. They will make contact with Terry McDermott and complete all the relevant paperwork.

If someone is free in an area you want to live in, you will be supported to meet the host, spend some time with them and ask any questions you may need to ask.

If you think this is for you, then plans will be put in place for you to move.

Myth busting

Is it foster care?

No, you're renting a room in a family environment. 

Do I have a curfew ?

Not unless it is needed, but remember to be respectful

How long can I stay?

This will end when you turn 21 years old. 

Can a family member or friend be the host?

As with all hosts, they will be assessed. If agreed, they can be your host.

Can I work or study?

Yes, you can.

How much do I pay?

You will need to pay a £30 per week contribution.

What about rent?

This is paid by Universal Credit to the host. 

Housing in districts

Cannock ChaseEast Staffordshire and BurtonLeek and MoorlandsLichfieldNewcastleSouth StaffordshireStaffordTamworth