Guidance on Part 10 (Aftercare) of the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014

Care leavers who move away (responsible authority)

166. Continuity of support is key to making a success of throughcare and aftercare services. The 2003 Regulations make it clear that the responsible authority is the local authority that is looking after, or last looked after, the young person, and is responsible for the payment of placement and/or support costs.

167. This is consistent with the Looked After Children (Scotland) Regulations 2009 and the Support and Assistance of Young People Leaving Care (Scotland) Regulations 2003.

168. Where a young person is placed out with the responsible authority, for example, when looked after with relatives, the responsible authority should inform the host authority of their presence, this will facilitate both continuity of support and cooperative planning.

169. To ensure a young person continues to receive the same standard of care and service provision as they would have if they had remained in the care of the placing home local authority and its partners, corporate parents may wish to enter into agreements with the receiving local authority and health boards about the provision of services or support.

170. However, while responsibility for delivering service or support may be transferred to the host authority, the responsibility for securing and promoting the individual's wellbeing remains with the placing home authority.