Finance

Finances:

St Helens Local Authority recognises that you, as a care leaver, require support with your transition into adulthood to ensure it is positive. We act as your 'corporate parent', so it is important that we offer support and care like a parent would. This is to ensure we help you reach your full potential in adulthood.

This policy outlines the financial support we will provide to you as a St Helens care leaver. The financial policy will support you with key areas of your life such as:

• Setting up your home.
• Education, training and employment.
• Providing you with support to celebrate key events in your life (your birthday, Christmas or other religious events).
• Support to maintain contact with your family and significant people in your life.
• Support to keep up with your hobbies.
• Getting your identification documents.
• Learning to drive.
• Allowances for your essential items such as clothing.
• Emergency support.
• Holiday grant.
• Health.

The law sets out different categories of care leavers; the different categories are found in the 'What's my Care Leaver Status?' section and entitlements are outlined below.

All the above support will be recorded within your Pathway Plan that will be completed by you and your Social Worker or Personal Adviser. Your Pathway Plan will be reviewed every six months or when a significant event occurs. If you have returned to live with somebody who holds parental responsibility for you for six months or more, you will not be entitled to financial support.

For the full financial policy please see the attached document.