• Preparation for independence and the transition to adulthood programmes would focus on the strengths of young people and progress at a pace that suits the young person and should identify the timescale that is required to make a successful transition to adulthood.

• Preparation for independence should include the views of young people and enhance and improve the life chances of young people in, and leaving care.

• Preparation for independence is not a distinct phase; small tasks and steps should be undertaken from the point of being ‘looked after’.

• Appropriate pathway planning and leaving care services are based on robust assessments, knowledge of available services and partnership approaches.

• Individual preparation for independence programmes, leaving care assessments and pathway plans while being flexible, should highlight the tasks that need to be achieved and the role we (Kindle Care), social workers, leaving care personal advisers, family members, partner agencies, such as education, health, housing, schools and colleges would play.

• Our programmes would highlight tasks and expectations of young people and allow sufficient time to work at the young person’s pace.

• A broad range of tools, resources and methods for working with young people would be available to enable a creative and flexible approach.

• Kindle Care‘s preparation for Independence programme would address issues of health and development, education, training and employment, practical and emotional skills, placement and accommodation needs, relationships, community organisations and support networks and financial and budgeting skills.

• Kindle Care’s preparation for Independence programme would address particular needs arising from issues of gender, class, sexuality, race, culture, religion, linguistic background and disability.

• Kindle Care’s preparation for Independence programme, leaving care assessments and pathway plans should aim to empower young people taking account of gradual learning and that tasks can be revisited.

Service Delivery

Kindle Care believe that in order to support a client onto independence we must ensure the service user fully engages with the service. There can at times be certain barriers to engagement, therefore we try to mitigate this through the use of tools to record, monitor and communicate with our service users. This in- turn increases our level of

understanding, which allows Kindle Care professionals the knowledge and ability to help the client make changes and necessary amendments to the support plan, in order to effectively aid the young person to produce positive outcomes.