What your Pathway Plan covers
We will start a Pathway Plan with you from the age of 16, as you get ready to leave care. Your Pathway Plan is about you and your future. It shows how we will support you to reach your goals and live more independently. Your worker will go through the plan with you and will use your own words as much as possible. This is your plan, and your views really matter.
Your Pathway Plan looks at all the important parts of your life, including:
- where you live
- money
- your health and wellbeing
- education, training or work
- relationships and identity
If it is relevant, it can also include information about becoming a parent or any worries about your safety.
Working together
Your Pathway Plan talks about:
- what is going well for you
- what you need help with
- your hopes and goals for the future
- who will help you, and how
Your Personal Adviser will work with you to review and update your Pathway Plan regularly, so it always reflects what’s happening in your life.
Getting ready to live independently
You can talk about:
- things that will help you manage on your own
- any worries you have
- your achievements and successes
- skills you want to build
- support or advice you need
You can also talk about your future plans and goals, and how we can help you work towards them.
Your health and wellbeing
It is important to talk about your health. This includes:
- any health needs you have
- whether you are registered with a doctor and dentist
- support you need for your health or a disability
If you are not registered, we will help you do this. You can also talk about health checks from when you were in care, and your understanding of things like sexual health, drugs and alcohol.
Education, training and work
Having a career goal is important. Your plan should show:
- what you want to work towards
- the steps needed to help you get there
You can talk about:
- qualifications and achievements you already have
- your next steps
- any support you may need, such as help with travel, college applications or job applications
Relationships and identity
Your worker will support you to keep positive relationships with family and friends. You should also have the chance to learn about your family history and life story. If you don’t know this yet, you can ask for help to find out more.
Being yourself
The identity section is about what makes you, you.
Your worker will help you think about:
- how you describe yourself
- your views and opinions
- how you see others, and how they may see you
You can also talk about hobbies, interests, sports or activities you enjoy, or would like to try.
Safety and parenthood
Your Pathway Plan also includes space to talk about:
- keeping yourself and others safe
- parenthood, if this is relevant to you
These will be discussed when needed during your Pathway Plan reviews.
Why the Pathway Plan is important
Every young person who is looked after must have a Pathway Plan. This usually starts around your 16th birthday. It is something we have to do by law.
Your Pathway Plan is about you and your future. It looks at different parts of your life and helps you plan your path towards becoming an independent young adult.
Once your plan is in place, we can support you to work towards the things you want to achieve. That is why it is really important that you work closely with your worker to create and update your Pathway Plan. By doing this together, your plan will always reflect how you feel, what you want, and any worries you might have.
Things to think about when creating your Pathway Plan
If there is anything you are unhappy about, speak up. Make sure it is written down in your Pathway Plan so your views are clear.
It is also a good idea to think about a Plan B (sometimes called a back‑up plan). This means that if things don’t go as planned, you know what to do and who you can ask for help. If you are not sure, your worker can help you think this through.
If you do not agree with something a professional has said or decided, make sure this is written in your plan. This helps others understand how you feel.
You can also say whether you are happy for your Pathway Plan to be shared with other people, such as professionals, family or friends. You do not have to share it if you don’t want to.
After the plan is written
You will get a copy of your Pathway Plan. This can be a paper copy or sent to you by email – whatever works best for you.
You will be asked to sign it to show that you agree with what has been written. Keep your copy safe, as you may need to look back at it to help you stay on track with your goals.
You can ask for your Pathway Plan to be reviewed at any time. This is especially important if something big changes in your life and your goals need updating.
Your Pathway Plan should be reviewed with your worker at least every six months. This gives you time to talk about what is happening in your life and how well things are going as you work towards your goals.
Support from your Personal Advisor (Social Worker or Leaving Care Worker)
You and your worker will agree the best way to stay in touch. They will contact you regularly. This might be through visits, phone calls, or messages like text or WhatsApp.
Usually, you will hear from your worker about once a month until you turn 18. Sometimes this might be more or less often, depending on what you agree together.
Once you are 18, you can meet your worker at a time and place that works for you both. How often you meet will depend on how much support you need at that time.
For example, if you are moving into your own place, you might need more help to get settled. As you grow more confident and independent, you may feel that you need less contact and support from us.