Support Young People Leaving Care
Level:
CPD
Duration:
3 hrs
Course code:
TD/2025/09090
Max group:
12
Learn strategies to support young people transitioning from care to independence and adulthood
Course Summary
Support Young People Leaving Care
This course is designed for professionals supporting young people transitioning from care to independent living. It provides essential knowledge and practical tools to guide young people through this challenging period, helping them build the life skills, emotional resilience, and independence necessary to thrive in adulthood. The course covers areas such as housing, education, employment, emotional wellbeing, and social connections, while also addressing common challenges such as maintaining relationships and navigating complex systems. By the end of this course, participants will be equipped with the skills and understanding to provide tailored support to young people, ensuring they have the resources, guidance, and opportunities needed to succeed in their post-care journey. Key Learning Objectives: Understanding the Transition from Care Understand the unique challenges young people face when leaving care. Learn about the legal and policy frameworks guiding care leavers’ support. Explore the importance of a well-managed transition and long-term support. Building Life Skills for Independence Develop practical strategies for teaching essential life skills (e.g., budgeting, cooking, time management). Support young people in developing self-care routines and decision-making abilities. Teach problem-solving and coping strategies for managing everyday challenges. Navigating Housing and Accommodation Options Learn about different housing options available to young people leaving care (e.g., supported accommodation, independent flats). Help young people understand their rights and responsibilities in relation to housing. Provide guidance on how to maintain and manage a tenancy successfully. Education and Employment Support Understand the challenges young people face in continuing education or finding employment. Provide strategies to support career planning, CV writing, and job search. Offer guidance on accessing further education, vocational training, and apprenticeships. Emotional Wellbeing and Mental Health Support Recognize the emotional and psychological impact of leaving care and how to provide appropriate support. Learn strategies for building emotional resilience and coping mechanisms. Understand the importance of ongoing mental health support, including accessing professional services. Building Social Connections and Support Networks Teach young people how to build and maintain healthy relationships after leaving care. Promote the importance of strong social support networks, including friends, mentors, and community services. Encourage participation in social and community activities to reduce isolation. Legal Rights and Advocacy Understand the legal rights of young people leaving care, including entitlements to support and funding. Learn how to advocate effectively on behalf of young people to access services and resources. Educate young people on their rights and how to seek help when needed. Promoting Independence and Long-Term Success Develop strategies to encourage long-term personal growth and sustained independence. Learn how to balance providing support with promoting self-sufficiency. Understand the importance of aftercare and continued monitoring to ensure successful outcomes.
Course Contents
Module 1: Introduction to the Transition from Care
Emotional, social, and practical challenges faced by care leavers
Impact of care experience on identity, confidence, relationships
Role of professionals in supporting transitions
Overview of legislation, policies, and entitlements
Responsibilities of local authorities and support services
Importance of a “Leaving Care” plan and aftercare servicesModule 2: Life Skills Development
Practical skills: budgeting, cooking, cleaning, time management
Managing finances: bank accounts, paying bills
Developing self-care routines and maintaining health
Empowering decision making and problem-solving
Building resilience and managing stressModule 3: Housing and Accommodation Options
Types of accommodation for care leavers (supported living, hostels, independent flats)
Importance of stable housing and securing long-term accommodation
Preparing for tenancy agreements and landlord relations
Teaching tenancy rights and responsibilities
Addressing rent payments, property upkeep, disputes
Encouraging self-sufficiency and knowing when to seek supportModule 4: Education and Employment Support
Identifying post-care educational opportunities (further education, vocational training, apprenticeships)
Supporting applications for college/university or courses
Promoting lifelong learning and education value
Career guidance: job searching, CV and cover letter building
Interview preparation and professional skills development
Supporting workplace transition and colleague relationshipsModule 5: Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing
Recognizing emotional challenges: anxiety, depression, loneliness
Impact of trauma and attachment issues on mental health
Early signs of emotional distress and mental health concerns
Building emotional resilience and coping strategies
Supporting self-esteem, emotional regulation, and positive mental health
Guiding access to mental health services and community supportsModule 6: Building Healthy Social Connections
Developing healthy, trusting relationships with family, peers, professionals
Teaching communication, conflict resolution, empathy
Managing post-care relationships and support networks
Encouraging community participation and social inclusion
Supporting new friendships, volunteering, and social networksModule 7: Legal Rights and Advocacy
Overview of legal rights: housing, welfare benefits, education
Understanding entitlements to support services and financial aid
Key documents and the “Leaving Care” plan
Teaching self-advocacy skills in housing, education, employment
Navigating legal processes and accessing professional support
Empowering informed decision-making and help-seekingModule 8: Preparing for Long-Term Independence
Setting personal future goals (education, career, health)
Skills in long-term planning, goal-setting, time management
Encouraging self-reflection and personal development
Role of aftercare in successful transitions
Providing ongoing support, follow-ups, and check-ins
Building long-term support systems with mentors and community resourcesModule 9: Developing an Individualized Support Plan
Creating personalized leaving care plans with young people
Including life skills, housing, education, emotional wellbeing
Setting realistic timelines and milestones
Collaboration with multi-agency professionals (social workers, youth workers, mentors, educators)
Ensuring young people’s voices in planning
Coordinating with local authorities, housing, health servicesModule 10: Evaluating the Success of Support Strategies
Techniques for measuring effectiveness of support strategies
Regular progress reviews and plan adjustments
Gathering feedback from young people
Encouraging flexible, adaptive support approaches
Ongoing professional development for better care leaver support
Assessment
The instructor conducts a single written assessments at the end of the course. Upon successful completion, learners will receive a three-year Level 3 Award in Principles of Safeguarding and Protecting Children, Young People or Vulnerable Adults (Level 6 in Scotland). No external assessors are required for this qualification.
Duration
The course requires a minimum of 7 hours, distributed over the day. While it is ideal to complete the course in one day, we can adjust the schedule to suit your specific needs, as long as the course is completed within 3 weeks of starting and each training session lasts at least two hours.
Certification Validity
This qualification has no formal expiry, however regular CPD and updates are recommended.
Further Information - Course Numbers
A maximum of 12 students can be accommodated on this course and all candidates must be a minimum of 18 years of age to qualify.
Assessment method: Activities, test paper.
Pre-requisite: None
Suggested progression:
recommended refresher training and CPD;