Care Leaver
Definition: A care leaver is someone who was accommodated by a local council when they turned 16 and is now moving to live independently.
A care leaver is someone who has been accommodated and supervised by a local council Social Work Department under the Children's Act (Scotland) when they turned 16, but is now moving to live independently. Care leavers can be living with a foster family, supervised by a Social Worker whilst living at home, or living in a residential school or children's home. Social Work has the legal responsibility to help the young person make plans to move on and support them in the transition to independent living. Specifically, they have to provide the young person with the information they need to make decisions, ensure they have a suitable place to live, and provide support so that they can acquire independent living skills.
back to top
<< back to the page you just came from
<< back to list of glossary terms