If you are an eligible, relevant, or former relevant care leaver, you will be allocated a personal adviser (PA).
Your personal adviser will be your main point of contact to support you as you move into adulthood and independent living.
Who can get a personal adviser
You will be allocated a personal adviser if you are:
- an eligible child
- a relevant child
- a former relevant child
If you are a qualifying child, you are not automatically entitled to a personal adviser, but you may be offered temporary support following a needs assessment.
How your personal adviser will support you
You will meet your personal adviser before your 18th birthday. They will help you plan your move to independence at a pace and in a way you are comfortable with.
As a young adult, your personal adviser will provide advice, information, and support to help guide you when making decisions.
Regular meetings
- Your personal adviser will meet with you at least once every 8 weeks, either in your home or in the community.
- You can contact them between meetings whenever you need advice or extra support.
Working with other services
With your agreement, your personal adviser will work with other agencies to support your transition to adult life. This may include:
- health services
- housing agencies
- colleges and universities
- benefit advisers
- probation services
- other local community organisations
How long support lasts and rules on engagement
Your personal adviser will continue to support you to achieve your goals up until your 25th birthday, if you need or request it.
Continuous 6-month engagement rule
Support from your personal adviser may be withdrawn if, for a continuous period of 6 months or more, you:
- do not meet with your personal adviser for visits
- do not participate in reviews of your pathway plan
- do not engage with the support offered to you
If your support is paused or withdrawn, you can contact the Lambeth 16+ Independence Service at any time before age 25 to request support again.