The Children (Leaving Care) Act 2000

This Act implements the proposals set out in the consultation document “Me Survive, Out There? – New Arrangement for Young People Living in and Leaving Care” published in July 1999. The purpose of the Act is to create new and stronger duties on local authorities to support care leaver at least up to 18 years of age, and to help young people who have been looked after by a local authoiryt move from care into living independently in as stable a fashion as possible.

The responsible local authority is placed under a duty to assess and meet the care and support needs of eligible and relevant children and young people, in particular in respect of their employment, education and training.

The Act distinguishes between eligible children, relevant children and former relevant children who are defined in the Act.

Section 1 of this Act amends Schedule 2 to the Children Act 1989, inserting new paragraphs 19A, 19B and 19C to impose duties on local authorities towards children whom they are looking after.

Section 3 provides for personal advisers who will draw up “Pathway Plans” for children, which takes over from the former care plan. The personal adviser will be responsible for keeping in touch with the child until they are at least 21.

Assistance must be given with employment, education and training as well as general assistance.

Section 4 provides for advice and assistance for certain children and young persons aged 16 or over.

Section 5 inserts a new section 24D into the Children Act 1989 providing that every local authority shall establish a procedure for considering representations (including complaints) made to them by a relevant child.

See here: The Children (Leaving Care) Act 2000