What is a Staying Put arrangement?
The Staying Put scheme was introduced to help young people to remain living with their former foster parents after the age of 18. Many of our young people have close relationships with their foster family and welcome this continued support.
The pathway plan should consider whether Staying Put is the best option to meet the young person’s needs. Staying Put can be particularly helpful if the young person is still in full-time education or has additional needs.
Effect on the usual fostering limit
When a young person reaches 18 they are no longer looked after and their placement is therefore no longer a foster placement. As a result, the young person is not included in the number of children who can be fostered.
This means that you can have a young adult live with you under a Staying Put arrangement, and continue to foster up to the limit of your fostering approval, subject to available bedrooms. The young person who is Staying Put is regarded as another adult in the household and will need to have a DBS check.
Financial arrangements for Staying Put
Every local authority has its own Staying Put policy and funding arrangements. Some arrangements are made through ISP and we are then able to continue to support you and be involved in the young person’s care. ISP will discuss and negotiate the arrangement with the local authority, and keep you informed throughout.
Alternatively, an arrangement can be made directly between you and the local authority. In these cases, we will help you to negotiate with the local authority so that you get the funding and support you need, but we would no longer be involved in the young person’s care once the staying put arrangement begins.
For more information, read our Staying Put policy
Read the Government’s guidance on Staying Put schemes
Training opportunities: Staying Put and Safeguarding Adults
