Legal stuff

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Children Act 1989 and Children (Leaving Care) Act 2000

This Local Offer has been developed in line with the Children Act 1989, the Children (Leaving Care) Act 2000, the Children and Social Work Act 2017, and the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026. These laws and the guidance that sits alongside them are designed to make sure care-experienced young people receive the support they need as they move into adulthood.

Your Rights as a Care-Experienced Young Person

(Children and Social Work Act 2017)

These laws help make sure you can access the information, advice, support and opportunities you need to achieve your goals, build positive relationships, live independently and have the same opportunities as other young people. They also place duties on Stoke-on-Trent City Council to act as a good Corporate Parent and support you to achieve the best possible outcomes.

What's New from September 2026

(Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026 and Updated Local Offer Guidance)

From September 2026, new Local Offer requirements have strengthened these expectations even further. There is now a greater focus on helping care-experienced young people build lasting relationships, stay connected to their communities, access the services they need, and receive support that helps them thrive throughout adulthood.

This includes helping you to:

  • Build and maintain positive and lasting relationships.
  • Feel safe and supported.
  • Look after your health and wellbeing.
  • Find safe, stable and suitable accommodation.
  • Access the services you need.
  • Develop confidence and practical life skills.
  • Take part in your community.
  • Achieve your ambitions.
  • Make a successful transition into adulthood.

Our Promise as Your Corporate Parent

(Children and Social Work Act 2017 - Corporate Parenting Principles)

Stoke-on-Trent City Council is committed to being a good Corporate Parent. This means we will work with you and our partners to make sure you receive the support, encouragement and opportunities you need to thrive, achieve your goals and reach your full potential.

What Does Being a Corporate Parent Mean

If you are a care-experienced young person, Stoke-on-Trent City Council is your Corporate Parent.

A Corporate Parent is a group of people and services that have a responsibility to support you, encourage you and help you succeed, just as a good parent would. This is not just the responsibility of Children's Services or the Next Steps Service. The whole council, along with the organisations we work with, should help make sure you have the support, opportunities and relationships you need to thrive.

Being a good Corporate Parent means we will:

  • Listen to you and take your views seriously.
  • Help you stay safe, healthy and happy.
  • Support you to achieve your goals and ambitions.
  • Help you find and keep a suitable place to live.
  • Support you to build and maintain positive relationships.
  • Help you develop the skills and confidence needed for adult life.
  • Support you to access education, employment and training opportunities.
  • Make sure you know your rights and can access the support available to you.

We understand that many care-experienced young people may not have the same family support network as other young people. That is why we work hard to make sure you have trusted adults in your life, people you can turn to for advice, support and encouragement when you need it. Building and maintaining positive relationships is at the heart of everything we do.

The Seven Promises We Make to You

The law says that all councils must follow seven Corporate Parenting Principles when supporting care-experienced young people. These are the promises we make to you:

1. We Will Support Your Health and Wellbeing

  • We want you to feel safe, healthy and supported. We will help you access healthcare, emotional wellbeing services, mental health support, leisure activities and anything else that helps you look after yourself and stay well.

2. We Will Listen to You

  • Your voice matters. We will listen to your views, wishes and feelings and involve you in decisions about your life, including your Pathway Plan, accommodation, education and future goals.

3. We Will Help You Access Support

  • Finding the right support can sometimes feel confusing. We will help you understand what services are available and how to access them, whether this is housing, health support, education, employment advice, financial guidance or community services.

4. We Will Help You Achieve Your Goals

  • We believe in your potential. Whatever your ambitions are, we will encourage you to aim high and support you to achieve your personal, educational, training and employment goals.

5. We Will Help You Have a Safe Home and Positive Relationships

  • Having a safe place to live and people you can rely on is important. We will help you access suitable accommodation and support you to build, maintain and strengthen positive relationships with family members, friends, carers, mentors and other trusted adults.

6. We Will Help You Prepare for Adult Life

  • Becoming independent is a journey. We will help you develop practical life skills such as budgeting, cooking, managing a tenancy, accessing services and making informed decisions so that you feel confident about adult life.

7. We Will Support You in Education, Training and Employment

  • Whether you want to go to college, university, start an apprenticeship, find a job or learn new skills, we will support you to achieve your ambitions and make the most of available opportunities.

What This Means for You

Being care-experienced is only one part of who you are, and it should never limit your opportunities.

As your Corporate Parent, we want you to feel valued, listened to and supported. We will work with you to help you:

  • Understand your rights and entitlements.
  • Build positive and lasting relationships.
  • Stay healthy and safe.
  • Find and keep suitable accommodation.
  • Manage your money and become more independent.
  • Access education, training and employment opportunities.
  • Take part in your community.
  • Achieve your goals and ambitions.

Understanding Your Care Leaver Status

Your rights and the support you can receive as a care-experienced young person depend on your legal status. This is based on factors such as your age, how long you have been in care and your individual circumstances.

Your legal status helps determine things like whether you have a Personal Adviser (PA), a Pathway Plan, what help you can receive with accommodation, what financial support may be available to you and how long you can receive support from the Next Steps Service.

Don't worry if you are unsure what your legal status is or what it means. Your Social Worker or PA will explain this to you, answer any questions you have and make sure you understand your rights, entitlements and the support available to help you achieve your goals and make a successful transition into adulthood.

The following section explains what each of these categories means and the support that may be available to you.

Eligible Care-Experienced Young Person (Aged 16-17)

If you are an Eligible young person, you are still in care and will continue to receive support from your Social Worker and the Local Authority.

You are entitled to:

  • A Social Worker.
  • A Pathway Plan to help prepare you for adulthood.
  • Regular reviews of your plans and progress.
  • Support with education, training and employment.
  • Support to develop independence skills.
  • Help to prepare for suitable accommodation when you leave care.
  • Support with your health and wellbeing.
  • Help to maintain important relationships and family connections where appropriate.
  • Support to have your views, wishes and feelings heard and acted upon.

Relevant Care-Experienced Young Person (Aged 16-17)

If you are a Relevant young person, you have left care but are still under 18.

You are entitled to:

  • A Personal Adviser (PA).
  • A Pathway Plan that sets out the support you need.
  • Financial support, as you are generally not entitled to claim most benefits.
  • Suitable accommodation and support to maintain it.
  • Support with education, employment and training.
  • Help with your health and emotional wellbeing.
  • Support to develop practical life skills and prepare for adulthood.
  • Help to maintain relationships and access support networks.
  • Advice, guidance and practical support when needed.

Former Relevant Care-Experienced Young Person (Aged 18-25)

If you are a Former Relevant young person, you are aged 18 or over and were previously an Eligible or Relevant young person.

You are entitled to:

  • A Personal Adviser up to your 25th birthday if you want one.
  • A Pathway Plan which will be reviewed regularly.
  • Support to find and maintain suitable accommodation.
  • Advice and support with budgeting, benefits and finances.
  • A Leaving Care Grant to help you set up your first home.
  • Support with education, training and employment.
  • Access to the Higher Education Bursary if you attend university and meet the eligibility criteria.
  • Help to access apprenticeships, traineeships and employment opportunities.
  • Support with physical and emotional wellbeing.
  • Help to build and maintain positive relationships and community connections.
  • Support if you become homeless or are at risk of homelessness.
  • Advice and support if you are leaving custody.
  • The opportunity to return for support at any time before your 25th birthday, even if you previously chose not to receive a service.

Qualifying Care-Experienced Young Person

If you are a Qualifying young person, you may not be entitled to the same level of support as Eligible, Relevant or Former Relevant young people, but you can still receive advice and assistance.

This may include:

  • Advice and guidance from a Social Worker (if under 18) or a Personal Adviser (if over 18).
  • Support with education, training and employment.
  • Advice about accommodation and housing options.
  • Help accessing services in your local area.
  • Support with maintaining relationships and support networks.
  • Information about financial support and benefits.
  • Assistance based on your individual needs and circumstances.

The support available to Qualifying young people will depend on your situation and will be discussed with you to identify what help may be appropriate.

Find Out More About Your Rights as a Care-Experienced Young Person

If you would like to learn more about the laws and guidance that help protect your rights and entitlements as a care-experienced young person, the following websites provide helpful information:

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Care leavers local offer