Hello,I'm 15 years of age and I am private fostered by my deceased mothers friend,I have not long come out of care! I will be 16 in a couple of months and I want to know my rights? Do I have to stay where I am till I'm eighteen or can I still move out when I'm 16 without social services consent and all assessments checks done etc..! All I want is to know all my rights and what I am legally allowed to do without starting of a big fuss with social services,my family,etc as I do not want to go back into care.
Sam
Hi there,
Wanting to know your rights and have access to information is a really valuable part of being able to make informed decisions. It’s very natural as you grow from being a young person to a young adult that you want to be more aware of what you’re entitled to and how you can make choices that reflect the safe and happy lifestyle you want.
When you reach 18 years old, you are legally an adult. And this means that you can make any choice that you want to. You are in control and are responsible for any consequences which may arise from the decisions you make. At 18 you can leave home with and without anybody’s permission, and where housing is involved you can legally sign a tenancy agreement, whereas under 18 years of age, you cannot sign anything that is legally binding.
At 16 it’s very natural to be feeling like you want more freedom, it’s what can be referred to as a time of ‘transition’ and this means that there is a focus on change. There can be many changes in life and people will have different ideas and feelings about what change means to them and how they feel about it.
At 16 you can move out of the care that is being provided for you, providing you are in a position where you can take care of yourself and your emotional, physical and financial needs. Ideally you do need permission - if you left without your carer’s permission they may get in touch with the police. They should make an assessment of the situation you’re in and whether it is safe for you to stay there or return you back to your carers.
It can feel frustrating the idea of social services and checks and assessments but the important thing to remember is that these are in place to ensure that you’re getting all you deserve so that your wellbeing doesn’t suffer. To ensure that you’re getting the right help and support when you leave care and become independent you may like to consider getting in touch with Coram Voice.
Starting out on your own can be really tough, everything costs money and having a good support network around you to help you can be really beneficial. You also always have the support of a counsellor where you can explore feelings and consider ideas for the future.
Take care, Sam
Need help straight away?
Contact a counsellor online or call 0800 1111. Calls are free and confidential.
