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A safe place to call home

Having a safe and stable home is important. We will start talking with you about where you want to live and the support you may need before your 18th birthday.

Moving from care into adult life is a big step. We know this can feel exciting, worrying, or overwhelming. Everyone moves at their own pace, and becoming independent is a process. We will work with you to help you build the skills, confidence and support you need to feel ready for your next step.

You can get support with housing until your 25th birthday. Your Personal Adviser will help you plan where you will live and what support you may need. This will be in your Pathway Plan.

Your housing entitlements

As a care leaver, you are entitled to support with your accommodation and housing needs until your 25th birthday. We will help you understand your housing options, access suitable accommodation and get the support you need to keep your home.

Your housing needs and plans will be reviewed regularly through your Pathway Plan, helping you prepare for each stage of your journey towards independence.

How we will support you

We will help you to:

  • understand your housing options and housing rights
  • find accommodation that is suitable for your needs
  • learn the skills needed to live independently
  • manage your tenancy, bills and household budget
  • access support if you are worried about losing your home
  • prevent homelessness and get help quickly if you have a housing crisis
  • move into and settle into your new home

We will also offer a Tenancy Ready Course to help you understand:

  • paying rent and bills
  • managing Council Tax
  • looking after your home
  • being a good tenant
  • where to get help if something goes wrong

Please contact Julie Potter at Julie.Potter@cambridgeshire.gov.uk

Choosing the right home for you

The right accommodation will depend on your needs, circumstances and level of independence. We will work with you to explore the options available and identify accommodation that is suitable for you.

Where possible, your accommodation should help you stay connected to important people in your life and allow you to access education, training, employment and support services.

What suitable accommodation means

Your accommodation should:

  • be safe
  • meet your needs
  • be suitable for your age and level of independence
  • help you access education, training or employment where possible
  • provide the right support for you to succeed
  • help you maintain important relationships and access services that support your wellbeing, education, training, employment and independence

Your housing options

If you and your foster carer both agree, you may be able to stay living with them after your 18th birthday through a Staying Put arrangement.

This can continue until you are 21 and may be extended if you go to university.

You may choose to live in a Staying Connected project. This provides shared accommodation with support while you prepare for greater independence.

You can find more information at Staying connected - Break.

Supported lodgings gives you a room in the home of a trained host who can provide advice, support and encouragement while helping you build independent living skills.

This may be available until your 23rd birthday.

You can find more information at Supported lodgings for young people in Cambridgeshire.

If you are not ready for your own tenancy, supported accommodation can provide additional help while you develop your confidence and independence.

We will support you to register for housing in the area where you want to live.

If you are living in Cambridgeshire, you can apply to the housing register from the age of 17.5 years. Care leavers receive high priority for social housing in line with local housing allocation policies.

If you need help moving into a new home, we may be able to help with a rent deposit and rent in advance.

This is a one-off payment to help you secure accommodation when other options are not available. We will look at your individual circumstances and check whether other funding is available first.

Any support agreed must be included in your Pathway Plan, so everyone is clear about what support you will receive and how it will help you move into and maintain your home.

For some young people, buying a home may be an option in the future. We can help you understand what support and schemes may be available.

When you move into your first home

We will help you settle into your new home by providing support that may include:

  • a Setting Up Home Allowance of up to £3,000 to help furnish your first home
  • support to get the best value for your money
  • help with your first food shop
  • payment of your first year's TV licence
  • help with decorating costs if needed
  • support with removals
  • help to understand your finances and priority bills
  • practical and emotional support from your Personal Adviser

If you are moving from supported accommodation, your key worker may continue to support you as you settle into your new home.

Council Tax support

If you are responsible for paying Council Tax, we will pay your Council Tax costs until your 21st birthday, wherever you live.

If you are aged 21 to 24, we will help you explore any funding or support that may be available.

Feeling confident in your home

Having your own home is a big step, and it's okay to need support sometimes. If you are worried about paying your rent or bills, managing money, repairs, problems with neighbours, or anything else to do with your home, talk to your Personal Adviser as soon as possible. Getting help early can make things easier and stop problems from getting bigger.

Floating Support Service

If you're aged 18 or over and need help to keep your home or live independently, the P3 Floating Support Service can support you.

The service can help with housing issues, budgeting, accessing financial support, wellbeing, education, training and employment, and building the skills needed to live independently.

You can access this support if you live in Cambridgeshire and need extra help to manage on your own.

Contact P3

Living outside Cambridgeshire

You do not have to live in Cambridgeshire to get support from us.

If you choose to live in another area and do not want to move back to Cambridgeshire, we will still support you. We will work closely with services where you live so that you can get the help you need.

Your Personal Adviser will stay in touch with you and help you access support in your local area.

Your housing rights as a care leaver

We'll work with Housing Services, landlords and other organisations to help you find and keep a safe and suitable place to live.

Cambridgeshire County Council and the local district and city councils have agreed a Care Leaver Housing Protocol. This means we will work together to plan your accommodation early, prevent homelessness wherever possible, share information appropriately, and make sure you receive joined-up support to access and maintain suitable accommodation.

We will work together to help you:

  • plan for where you will live before you leave care
  • access suitable accommodation
  • maintain your tenancy and prevent homelessness
  • receive joined-up support if you experience housing difficulties
  • access housing advice and support that meets your needs

Your Personal Adviser will help coordinate this support and make sure your housing needs are reflected in your Pathway Plan.

Your right to have a say

You have the right to be involved in decisions about leaving care, including where you live and the support you receive. We will listen to your views and what is important to you.

If you are unhappy with a decision or the support you receive, you can get help from an independent advocate.

What is an advocate?

An advocate is someone independent from the Council who can help you:

  • Share your views and feelings.
  • Speak up if you are unhappy about a decision.
  • Understand your rights.
  • Prepare for and attend meetings.
  • Make sure your voice is heard.

How to contact an advocate

Cambridgeshire County Council works with the National Youth Advocacy Service (NYAS).

Phone: 0808 808 1001
Email: help@nyas.net

You do not need permission to contact NYAS. Their support is free and confidential.

Remember: If you feel you are not being listened to or need help to speak up, an advocate can support you.

If you are worried about losing your home

Do not wait until you have nowhere to stay.

Speak to your Personal Adviser as soon as possible. We will work with housing services, landlords, housing providers and other agencies to help you keep your accommodation or find somewhere else suitable to live.

The sooner you ask for help, the more options we may be able to explore with you.

Emergency housing support

If you have nowhere safe to stay, cannot return to where you are living, or are at immediate risk of homelessness, contact your Personal Adviser as soon as possible.

We will work with local housing services and other agencies to make sure you receive advice, support and access to emergency accommodation if needed.

If you need urgent help outside normal office hours, you can contact the Emergency Duty Team.

Emergency Duty Team telephone: 01733 234724

If you become homeless

If you become homeless or are at risk of homelessness, help is available.

We will work with local housing services to make sure you get advice, support and a housing plan. Your Personal Adviser will continue to support you and help review your Pathway Plan.

We will support you to develop a housing plan and work with housing services to identify suitable accommodation. Your Personal Adviser will continue to support you throughout this process and make sure your housing needs are considered as part of your Pathway Plan.

If your first tenancy or accommodation does not work out, we will work with you to find another solution. We understand that independence can take time, and everyone learns from experience.

Need help?

If you have any questions about housing or accommodation, or if you are worried about where you will live, contact your Personal Adviser.

You can also ask for support if you:

  • are worried about where you will live in the future
  • are having problems with your landlord or tenancy
  • are struggling to pay your rent or household bills
  • are at risk of homelessness
  • need help understanding your housing rights

For housing advice and support, contact: Julie Potter, Personal Adviser, email Julie.Potter@cambridgeshire.gov.uk

Out of hours contact Emergency Duty Team telephone: 01733 234724.