In 2014, the Government said that you should have the right to stay with your foster family until you are 21 or until you finish education. This may be with your kinship foster carer (a family member/connected person) or your foster family who may not a blood relative to you.

If you want to stay with your foster carer/family beyond your 18th birthday, this will be discussed as part of your first Pathway Plan (age 16) to make sure it is planned properly and everybody agrees. The ‘Staying Put’ procedure will be applied and your foster carer will continue to receive financial support to support you. Your Social Worker will complete a financial assessment with you and when you are 18 you will provide a financial contribution to your Staying Put carer.

A living agreement will be put together by your Social Worker and this will involve house rules completed by you and your Staying Put carer. The house rules may change as you will now be an adult and the living agreement will be reviewed with your Pathway Plan every six months.