If you are an eligible child
The first thing to remember is that all of the things that matter and are important to other 16 and 17 year-olds still apply to you – feeling loved and settled, being listened to, doing well in your education, having great friends and beginning to think about your future life as an adult.
- You have the right to stay in your children’s home or other place (for example, residential school) until you are 18.
- You may have heard that young people can stay in foster care until they are 21. This is called ‘Staying put’. It was introduced in recognition that many young adults continue to live with their families until their mid 20s, or even older! We think young people living in children’s homes should have the same right. That’s not happened yet, though some local councils are testing ways of giving similar support to young people living in children’s homes. This is called ‘Staying close’. You could ask your social worker or independent reviewing officer whether ‘Staying close’ is happening where you live.
Here are another 6 important things about your rights: