Information for young people who are leaving or have left care
Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council is committed and constantly striving to improve outcomes for our young people who are leaving care or have left care. As corporate parents it is our job, as any reasonable parent, to enable our young people to make a successful transition to adulthood.
Corporate parenting is the formal way of saying that the Local Authority acts as your parent and has responsibilities to support and care for you in the way any reasonable parent would, up to the age of 25.
Leaving care can be a really scary thing to do and you may be worried about lots of things like, paying bills, managing a budget and housekeeping and may still need support to achieve your goals. For example, getting a job, a place to live, going to college or University.
You set your own goals in your Pathway Plan supported by your social worker and personal assistant. The Plan is your plan and is about what is most important to you.
Moving to independence can be a really difficult time but also a really exciting time. You will still have support from a Personal Assistant and a social worker until the care order ends when you turn 18, and you can still have support from a Personal Assistant until you reach 25.
Useful Links
Voices From Care Cymru exists to improve the lives of care experienced children and young people in Wales by being an independent voice for the care community.
The National Youth Advocacy Service (NYAS) provides support to care leavers.
Support for Care Leavers | Care Leavers Bursary | NYAS
The link below will take you to the Dewis Cymru website that holds information about lots of services across Wales.
The links below will take you to advice about benefits.
Welfare benefits | Sub-topic | GOV.WALES
The links below will take you to housing and homelessness advice.
Housing | Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council
01685 725000 – Housing Solutions Team
Support if you are homeless or about to become homeless | GOV.WALES