Leaving home

As you leave school and become an adult you might start thinking about leaving home.

It is important to think about how independent you are before you leave home. Being independent means looking after yourself without help from other people.

It will be easier to live on your own without help from other people if you are already quite independent.

Here are some things you would need to think about before leaving home. Thinking about these things will help you decide how independent you are.

• Will you need people to help you all the time or just a few hours a week?

• Do you know how to find somewhere to live?

• Could you do your own washing and ironing?

• Would you move to an area away from your friends and family?

• Will you know where to get help and support if you need it?

• Will you need changes like ramps to your house or flat?

• Will you need extra money to help choose where you live?

Thinking about how independent you are can help you decide where you want to live.

If you have a disability you might be able to get help to live independently from your local social services department.

If you want to leave home you will need to think about how much help you will need.

If you need a lot of help you might think about living in residential care. If you live in residential care most things like cooking and clean would be done for you.

 

If you do not need a lot of help to live on your own you might want to live in a supported living house.  Supported living means you would do most things on your own but there would be people around to help you with things you find difficult.

These are only two examples of the different types of places you could live. Click here to find out about different places you could live.

If you left care on or after 1 October 2001, Social Services will be able to help you find a place to live.

Social Services should help you with any problems finding somewhere to live until you are 21. If you go to college or university Social Services should help you until you are 24.

 
If you are having problems getting help with somewhere to live you should go to your local housing aid centre or citizens advice bureau straight away.

 

Your Connexions personal adviser will also be able to help.