Books, booklets & multimedia

Ten Top Tips for Preparing Care Leavers

	Price: £7.95	(BAAF, July 2008) ISBN 978 1 905664 30 6

How do young people who have grown up in care survive without a safety net to fall back on? How do they get through the turmoil of the late teens and early twenties without the emotional and financial support of a loving family behind them? In other words, how do these young people make it?

Some do and of course there are many who don’t. Some years ago, Frank Dobson MP wrote a letter asking local authorities to so for care leavers what they would do for their own children. Sadly, that message remains as relevant today as it was then. Many care leavers tell of being ill–equipped to deal with leaving care and the stress of having to suddenly cope on their own.

This book is for all those who work with young people who are preparing to leave care and step into life as independent young adults – social workers, leaving care workers, residential care workers and others. Based on the views and experiences of young people themselves, it offers child–centred advice on:

• Setting out to be a great corporate parent
• Having high aspirations for young people
• Helping care leavers achieve practical and budgeting skills for adult life
• Accessing housing and benefits
• Supporting young people to live by themselves
• How do the extra things that will make a difference to care leavers’ lives

Illustrated with quotes from care leavers and workers, this book delivers a strong message – believe in and expect the best for every young person you work with and support them to achieve it – and tells you how to make this a reality.