How we support care leavers with children

Before you become a parent

We want you to start a family at a time that is right for you. Before you become a parent, we will:

Discuss sex and healthy relationships with you
Make sure you have access to family planning advice and contraception
Help you prepare for being a parent. This could involve:
- Opportunities to learn about caring for babies and children
- Mentoring and advice from parenting role models (such a foster carers)
- Providing support to help you work through your thoughts and feelings about parenting

When you are expecting a child or become a parent

We will work with you and the different professionals and family networks around you to agree plans to support you. We will make sure:

You have the things you need

This includes:

A place to live
Money
Essential items

You know your rights and entitlements

This includes benefits, grants and resources in your local authority.

You know what to do

This may include:

How to change a nappy
How to bath a baby
When you need to seek medical advice
How to register for a school place, a dentist or optician

This support will be on-going, as what you will need to know will change as your child gets older.

Discover how our Virtual School offers parenting support to care leavers.

You know who is available to support you

This means knowing who you can contact if you need advice and support, even in the middle of the night or on weekends.

We will make sure that you know what services and support are available in your local authority or local area. We will discuss these options with you and help you to attend them. This will include services available to all parents as well as those specifically for care-experienced parents.

Find out more about sources of support for care leavers.

You can have a break (if you want one)

This could be time for a rest or to pursue hobbies and interests. We will support you to access our leisure centres and gyms.

You can attend a regular parent/carer and child supportive space

These are groups that offer catch ups with other care leavers with children. They can also include visits from professionals such as:

Health visitors
Education advisors
Employment advisors

They are sociable and offer guidance and information on practical and helpful topics. We will support you to travel to and from these groups.

Speak with your personal adviser (PA) about where and when you can access one of these groups.

You have help to plan for your future

We will support you to continue your education, access training or employment. This could include:

Providing careers advice and guidance
Practical help with childcare, transport, and other things you need

More about education, training and employment.

If you are living apart from your children

Parents may be separated from children for a range of reasons. This could include situations:

Where there are no concerns about parenting. For example, when children are living with another parent.
Where children have been removed on a temporary or permanent basis

We will always support you to build and maintain a relationship with your child. Depending on the situation, this support may be:

Practical, such as assisting you to see and spend time with your child
Financial, such as help travel costs
Emotional, such as discussing your thoughts and feelings
Ensuring you have access to advocacy or legal advice. This is to make sure your rights to see your child are respected.

If your child has been removed

If your child has been removed, we will take time to support you and help you deal with the implications. This could include:

Supporting you through the legal proceedings
Attending meetings
Dealing with housing issues
Managing benefit changes
Coping with grief and loss

Challenging stigma and discrimination

Care leavers with children may experience stigma and disadvantage. This is unacceptable.

If somebody raises a concern about your parenting, we will make sure:

You have access to advocacy and legal advice
Your care history and records are not used against you. If you need to have a parenting assessment, we will support you. We will make sure you are assessed as you are now, regardless of your past.
You receive fair assessments. We can discuss options such as recording discussions with social workers or having assessments with an independent social worker.
You have support available from Norfolk's Petal project. This is for care leavers who are pregnant or have had a child removed before and have a social worker for their child. The Petal team offer long‑term, one‑to‑one support to help you feel heard and to understand statutory processes with your child. For example, child in need services, child protection planning or care proceedings. You can access support from the Petal team via your personal adviser.

We will support you to respond to concerns about parenting. This will involve making sure:

You understand what is happening and what plans are in place
Your opinions are heard and included
You have access to support to address concerns and show change. This could include support with:
- Housing
- Mental health or counselling
- Relationship or parenting courses
- Drugs and alcohol services

Contact us

You can also contact us if you feel unhappy with the support offered.

We promise to keep reviewing how we are doing and will continue to work to make sure parents in and leaving care are well supported and treated fairly.