Accommodation for care leavers
Whatever happens, your social worker and personal adviser (PA) will help you to find a suitable place to live when you leave care.
Preparation for adulthood
As part of your pathway planning, we’ll start to explore your housing options with you before you turn 18. We’ll listen to your wishes and work out if you need any extra support.
If you want to live independently, your social worker and PA will help you develop the skills you’ll need. These include:
- budgeting
- managing a tenancy
- being a good neighbour
- understanding utilities and suppliers (water, gas, electricity, etc).
If you're not ready yet, your PA can work on these skills with you. We've got resources to help and you can practice skills like cooking and budgeting at TLC Hub.
Training flat
16/17 year old care leavers can get a taste of independent living at the training flat. You’ll usually stay here for around 3 weeks.
It can help you to decide where you want to live when you’re 18 by showing you some of the benefits and difficulties of living independently.
It'll also help your social worker or PA understand if there is anything you need more support with.
What is suitable accommodation?
Suitable accommodation is somewhere that is safe and right for you. It should be somewhere that will help you to develop your skills and experience. There are several housing options to consider.
Many young people feel that they must have their own property by law, but this is not the case. Having such a big responsibility at a young age may not be right for you.
Your PA will help you to find suitable accommodation. This might involve:
- finding suitable housing options for you, including supported accommodation if you’re not ready or don’t want to have your own tenancy
- giving you high priority access to social housing in accordance with our housing allocation policy
- supporting you in a housing crisis, including a second chance if your first move to independence doesn’t work out
Tips for choosing the right kind of accommodation
When choosing the right accommodation, think about:
- is it near to college, work, family and friends?
- how you feel about sharing a kitchen and living areas with other people
- what kind of support you need
- what your responsibilities are – how will you pay your bills and look after your property to keep it clean and safe?
Your housing options
Some of the options available to you are:
If you live with foster carers, you may be able to stay there after you turn 18.
This is called a 'staying put' arrangement.
It will have been discussed with you and your carers as part of your pathway planning.
You may need to stay at, or stay close to, residential care if this is best way to get the support that you need.
This is where you live independently, but with staff on hand to support you. There are different arrangements on offer and may include:
- shared houses
- bedsits
- small projects with self-contained-flats
- student accommodation
- part of an apprenticeship
Before taking on the responsibility of a tenancy, we can offer you the opportunity to live independently in accommodation provided by whg from age 17.
When you’re ready, we’ll make sure you have priority housing and can consider a tenancy once you turn 18.
A tenancy is a legal document which outlines your rights and responsibilities. There are different types of tenancy agreements - make sure you keep a copy and that you talk to your personal adviser before signing anything. We will help you maintain your tenancy and offer advice on living independently.
You will not have to pay council tax until you reach the age of 25, even if you live outside of Walsall.
If you are over school leaving age and you decide to be fully independent and work full time to pay your rent, you can ask us to act as your rent guarantor.
We can help you to move in, and you can use your setting up home allowance to buy furniture and other essentials. All of this will be done with the support of your personal adviser.
Homelessness
We have a duty to help prevent you becoming homeless. Please speak to your personal adviser immediately if you’re struggling to manage where you’re living, or at risk of homelessness. If you’re worried, we can help.
