What is a personal advisor?
All young people – eligible, former relevant, relevant or qualifying – are allocated a personal advisor from Future First on or around their 16th Birthday (or as soon as you come into care if you come into care after your 16th Birthday).
How will your personal advisor support you
Your personal advisor will help you to prepare for moving into adulthood. They will spend the two years before you turn 18 getting to know you really well and learning what is important to you.
As you move towards independence, they will become one of your biggest supporters! From 18 to 25, your personal advisor will offer you the advice, support, help, and guidance that you need to achieve the independent life that you want for yourself. They become your champions and as the law says, they are there to “advise, assist, and befriend” you.
In care
While you are still in care, they will visit you and attend your Child Looked After review meetings to make sure that you are getting all of the right advice and guidance about the process of becoming more independent. When you are still in care, your personal advisor will meet with you in person every eight to twelve weeks, or more frequently if you would like extra support and contact with them.
Your Social worker and your personal advisor will work with you to decide which time is right for your PA to take over as your main contact person. This does not necessarily need to be your 18th Birthday - it can be a while after that if you would like to have the ongoing support from your Social Worker. Nobody should have to move or experience big changes on the day of their 18th Birthday - that day is for celebration!
After leaving care
When you have left care, your personal advisor will visit you at least every 8 weeks. Their role is to help you achieve the targets and goals that you have set for yourself in your Pathway Plan. They work alongside you to teach you new skills, learn how to be a successfully independent adult and they offer you a friendly face and somebody that you can build a really positive relationship with. Your PA is there to help you succeed.
Your PA will always be honest with you and will treat you with respect and care. If they cannot do something or there is a problem, they will explain to you why that is and they will support you to find alternative options.
Your PA will provide you with support and advice on a wide range of issues relating to leaving care including:
- Your education, employment and training
- Your independence skills
- Finding and managing suitable accommodation
- Managing your money
- Building and maintaining positive relationships
- Staying healthy and well
- Being safe
- Supporting your identity, your interests and the things that make you unique!
How to contact your personal advisor
Your personal advisor will provide you with their phone and email contact details, but you can also visit them at 10 Falcon Grove, London, SW11 2ST.
If you cannot get through to your personal advisor or if they are on leave, you can contact the duty personal advisor every day on 020 8871 6733.