The Children’s Partnership, the voluntary and community sector strategic partner to the Department for Education, has published a new guide to the implementation of staying put in England.
The aim is to show those working in foster care and with looked after children how best to support new ‘Staying Put’ arrangements allowing fostered young people to remain in their placements until age 21.
The Children and Families Act 2014 places a duty on local authorities to support care leavers who wish to stay with their former foster carers (‘staying put’ arrangements) until aged 21. Most importantly of all, it allows them to leave stable and secure homes when they are ready and able to make the transition to independence.
The guidance will help councils to implement their new duties and brings together best practice in supporting carers and young people in ‘staying put’ arrangements.