Q: I’m interested in When I’m Ready, what should I do?
Answer: Speak to your Personal Advisor as soon as possible. You want to ask them for information about When I’m Ready and how to go about it well before your 18th birthday, so you have lots of time to plan. Your PA, will in turn speak to your carers about the scheme and start the process.
For independent advice and guidance about When I’m Ready, you can contact Voices From Care Cymru.
Q: Will When I’m Ready change my relationship with my carer?
Answer: Being in a When I’m Ready arrangement should not affect this. Some things will change, but this won’t affect how your carers support and look after you.
Q: What does change?
Answer: You will no longer be in a foster placement, but a When I’m Ready Arrangement and your foster carers will become When I’m Ready Carers.
You will pay rent or make a household contribution – this is to prepare for independent living, in other words living on your own independent from your carers and the local authority. The rent will be affordable and agreed well before your When I’m Ready arrangement starts.
Before you turn 18 (with the support of your Personal Advisor or Social Worker) you and your carer will complete a Living Together Agreement. This will set out what you need to work on and how you go about paying rent (the amount, when you pay it, how you pay it) along with any household responsibilities/rules. It will also look at focusing on independent living skills (cooking, budgeting, washing and so on).
Q: How long can I stay with my carers?
Answer: You can stay with your carers up until you are 21. If you are in education or training, you may stay up until you are 25.
Q: Why are my carers no longer my foster carers once I become 18?
Answer: Young people who are over the age of 18 are no longer legally ‘in care’ or ‘looked after’ by the local authority. Local authorities, who support young people over the age of 18, are no longer making a foster ‘placement’ but a ‘post-18 living arrangement’ for the young person.
A foster carer, who agrees to a When I’m Ready arrangement now becomes their When I’m Ready carer.
Remember, this won’t affect your relationships and how your carers support and look after you.
Q: When does When I’m Ready End?
Answer: When I’m Ready can end at the age of 21, but you can remain in the arrangement up until the age of 25 if you are in education or training.
However, you can leave the arrangement when you feel you “are ready” for independent living. You will work towards an ending with the support of your carers and your Personal Advisor.
Q: What should my carers help me with, once I start When I’m Ready?
Answer: Your carers will continue to offer you care and support, as they have always done. This shouldn’t change because you are in a When I’m Ready arrangement.
Carers should be offering you help with independent living skills throughout your time with them. However, this support should increase during a When I’m Ready arrangement as it helps you prepare and understand what independent living is like.
You will talk about these details before your 18th birthday with your PA and your carers, agreeing what to include in the “Living Together Agreement”. For example, you may need extra support in learning how to cook meals; or you may want help with looking for a job; or you may want to know how you make an appointment at the doctors, things like that.
Q: I want to end the arrangement, what should I do?
Answer: Really think about this before leaving. Talk it through with your carers or your Personal Advisor because once you leave its final, there is no going back.
If you’ve fallen out with your carers, speak to your PA, see if you can make it up. If you can’t, your PA will support you with the next steps.
If you feel ready to leave, that you’re fully prepared for independent living (living on your own), speak to your carers and your Personal Advisor to discuss the next steps.
