The benefits young people gain from staying put shouldn’t be underestimated, this is a turbulent time for all teenagers but for children in care it can be especially difficult. Feelings of abandonment or lack of opportunity can often make them take backwards steps. Knowing they will continue to have a bed to sleep on, without condition, means they can focus on making the decisions that will form their futures.

There will be changes to the fostering arrangement now that the young person is no longer a foster child, these include the allowances received, but the support and training does not. Access to your social worker remains the same, but can be tailored to the young person’s requirements – you may not need as much support as you have received previously, these discussions can be had before and after the young person becomes 18.

To continue to support a young person beyond 18 shows dedication to the individual who has become part of your family, it can be the defining show of care that makes the difference between success and failure in independence.