When a young person is preparing to leave or has left care, we provide support through our carers to help them gain the skills and experience they need to continue successful and independent lives.
Our young people live with our supported carers. This allows them to learn important day-to-day skills, strengthen their confidence and initiative, and develop their self-esteem as adults in a safe and caring environment.
Supporting young people leaving care
As a supported carer, the young people living with you will be forming the skills they need for adult life, such as:
- cooking
- housekeeping
- finances
- developing hobbies
- staying in touch with friends and family.
With our support, you will also help young people to navigate:
- employment
- training
- further education
- support and benefit entitlements.
We will also work with you to help young people with their wellbeing so they are able to cope with issues such as loneliness, isolation or low self-esteem.
Young people and supported care
The young people you will support will usually be school leaving age up to the age of 19. In some cases this support may be provided to the age of 21.
Each young person will have a plan in place to help with areas such as:
- accommodation
- education
- employment and training
- health and wellbeing
- emotional and social support.
Each plan will be unique to a young person, supporting them to become independent, valued individuals who feel part of their family, neighbourhood and community networks.
Becoming a supported carer
You don’t need any formal qualifications to become a supported carer. You will be drawing on your own life experience, and we will support you through an induction programme and ongoing training, as well as regular support and contact from a qualified social worker.
What is important is compassion and a genuine interest in helping young people. You will need patience, kindness and drive, while providing a safe and inclusive home that nurtures personal growth.
There are not many restrictions to who can become a supported carer – in fact our carers come from a fantastic range of backgrounds and walks of life. We do ask that you:
- are aged 21 or over
- have a spare bedroom.
Supported carer assessment process
Supported carers are assessed by our social work team and approved by a panel of professionals. This process takes approximately four months, with regular visits from your assessing social worker to find out more about you and your household. The process also allows you to fully consider if the role is right for you at this time, and we will be there to support you and your household through the whole process.
We don’t expect everyone’s lives to have been event-free. Where life has presented hurdles, we’re interested in open conversations about how you managed these and moved forward. After all, your experiences will inform a lot of how you support a young person.
We will consider your full household during the process. Everyone will be impacted by a young person coming to live with you, and they will also be contributing with their own experiences. We will also make a number of background checks, you will be asked to give permission for us to do so. This will include police, social service and health checks, as well as personal references.
Benefits of being a carer
You will receive an allowance for each young person living with you.
Our carers tell us there is so much more to the role in addition to this, and how rewarding it is to see young people flourishing with their support and able to move on to lead successful and fulfilling lives. You can read about one of our supported carer’s experiences and find out why they believe becoming a care is one of the best decisions they’ve ever made.
Supported care and the law
Supported care is the term used to describe the responsibilities to, and services provided for young people preparing to leave or who have left local authority care. Our duties are set out in the Children (Scotland) Act 1995 and related regulations and guidance.