Rotherham Leaving Care Local Offer

When you hear the news that you are going to be a parent there will be lots of things to think about and lots of things to plan for, but there will be time to get ready and your Personal Advisor can help you start to think about what you will need and what will have to change as you think about a future with a child.

To start this, your personal advisor will work with you to review your pathway plan. Part of this may be encouraging you to think about where you are living, what things you might need for your home and how you will manage financially.

We will also talk to you about who is in your life and who will be about to support you, this may be family, partners and or friends. We will also think about those professionals who you know, are part of your life and who you would want to be part of your future. This might be professionals who can help you learn about being a parent or people who can help you stay in college or work as well as being a parent.

Helping you learn to become a parent

• This can include activities at the Journey (see the Journey programme for more information).

• We can also help you find activities and groups that are local to you that you can access to help you as a parent. We can do this by talking to Early Help. We can also visit venues and groups with you to help you see what happens and what they are like.

• The Health Service makes sure you get more intense support as a new parent. This will start while you are pregnant and continue up to your child turning 2. This is to help you learn what it means to be a parent, support you in developing routines and learning how to be a good parent. They can also support you accessing children’s centres, parenting classes and young parents service. This is available up to your 25th birthday and is because you are a care leaver. This is the link to their website

• Early help services such a children’s centres and parenting classes are available for you to attend and participate in if you would want extra support in being a good parent. Your PA can help you access these settings, we can attend with you or wait outside if this will help you feel more confident.

Helping you manage financially when you're a parent

As a minimum we will support you make a claim for the right benefits when you are 24 weeks pregnant.

We will also make sure you apply for your maternity grant from the DWP.

We will also be able to provide up to £200 in the last 3 months of the pregnancy to help you get ready for your child arriving.

Where am I going to live when I'm a parent?

If you already have your own flat, we will help you make this ready for your baby.

We will help you make sure you have all the equipment you need to care for your baby and will help you make use of the support available to help you learn to become a parent.

If you need some extra help there is the option of a project called Fleming Gardens. This offers a purpose built supportive environment for young parents to learn how to become parents. The project is made up of 10 2 bed properties that are offered fully furnished. The project staff offer support and advice to young parents aged 16 – 25 years of age. When their parents appear more confident they also support young people moving on into their own accommodation.