What Are the Different Groups of Young People?
The Social Services and Wellbeing (Wales) Act 2014 says that we must promote a young person’s wellbeing, even when we stop looking after the young person.
There are six different groups (or categories) of young people who can get support, and each group has different rights.
Group 1 (Young Person Looked After Aged 16 or 17)
This is someone who is still being looked after, and who was looked after on or after their 16th birthday and has been looked after for more than 13 weeks since their 14th birthday.
Group 2 (Care Leaver Under 18)
This is a young person aged 16 or 17 who is no longer looked after, but who was looked after for more than 13 weeks after their 14th birthday.
Group 3 (Care Leaver Aged 18 or over)
This is someone aged 18-21 who was looked after for more than 13 weeks after their 14th birthday.
Group 4 (Reconnects to Care for Education or Training Purposes)
This is somebody who is aged 21-25 who has told us that they are following or want to follow a programme of education or training.
Group 5 (Young Person Who Left Care Under a Special Guardianship Order)
This is somebody who has reached the age of 16 (but is not yet 21) who is, or was, subject to a Special Guardianship Order when they reached 18, and who was looked after immediately before the order was made.
Group 6 (Young Person Who Did Not Qualify as A Care Leaver)
This is a young person aged 16-21 who does not fit into any of the groups above, but spent at least 3 months away from their family as a 16- or 17-year-old because:
- They were looked after by the council or,
- They were in a private children’s home or,
- They were living in accommodation provided by the NHS, the council, or an education setting or,
- They were with private foster carers.
What Is Each Group Entitled To?
Young people in Groups 1,2,3 and 4 must have a personal advisor, at least until they have finished full time education.
Young people in Groups 2,3 and 4 should have a plan that says what support and advice they need. We will make sure that if you are in Group 2, that you have enough money to live, a suitable place to live, and enough support.
We will support young adults in Group 3 by helping with the cost of living near your job, or where you are looking for a job, or helping with the cost of living near your education or training, or making a grant towards education or training costs, or helping with your wellbeing.
We will make sure that young people in Group 3 who go away to university or college have somewhere to live during the holidays.
We will help young adults in Group 4 until you leave education or training.
Some people in Group 5 or Group 6 will need help from us. We can help with living costs, education or training costs, or may provide accommodation.