are you leaving care?
Like other young people who have left their family homes, if you have been in care you need ongoing support to help you adjust to independent living.
DoCS is not only responsible for you while you're in care, but also for developing ‘leaving care’ or ‘after care’ plans.
leaving care plans
It is likely that the court order which placed you in care had an expiry date, such as your 16th birthday.
When that date is getting close, a case conference will be held with you to develop a ‘leaving care plan’.
This plan will include ways in which you can be supported through after care services to deal with any issues that may arise when you leave care.
This is designed to reduce the stress involved in leaving care and learning to live independently.
Your Next Step - information for young people leaving care
Your Next Step - information for young people leaving care provides you with the contact details for range of services who may be able to help you when you are preparing to leave care for independent living or have left care.
records and information
When you leave, or after you have left care, you are allowed to access any personal information held by either DoCS, your former foster carer or on your file.
These files include:
- birth certificates
- school reports
- medical reports
- personal photographs.
Sometimes information contained in a file might be considered distressing and DoCS might recommend special arrangements, such as a psychologist or counsellor’s presence while you access the file.
If you are over 25 and/or a former State Ward in NSW, it might be possible that records are still held about you.
For details on how to access your file and other information about you or your family, see are you a former ward?
your personal possessions
On leaving your placement, you are allowed to keep any personal effects, clothing, equipment such as car seats, wheelchairs or furniture that may have been purchased specially for you while in care.