Care leavers – relationships

When you turn 18, you'll have more choice and responsibilities in your relationships.

Your social worker – your social worker will be replaced with a leaving care personal adviser.

Your siblings – you won't need to arrange contact with siblings through your social worker anymore, you can do it yourself. If they're still in our care, you'll need to speak to their carer and social worker but your leaving care personal adviser can offer you support around this.

Your parents and family – at 18 years old, it will be your decision as to what relationship you want to have with your parents and family. Your leaving care personal adviser is there to support you to navigate this and to talk through any concerns. 

Intimate relationships – our health and wellbeing page has advice to help you stay safe, including contraception, parenting and meeting people online.

Lifelong Links support

Lifelong Links is all about connecting you with those who care about you. It can help you:

• reconnect with family members and other trusted adults in a safe environment. This might include people you're familiar with, those you haven't seen in a while, or even relatives you've never had the chance to meet
• discover more about your family's story and history.

Lifelong Links aims to provide you with strong, supportive relationships after your time in care, offering stability and understanding along the way.

Community engagement

Getting involved in your local community can help build confidence, relationships and new opportunities. We can support you to:

• access volunteering opportunities
• join local clubs, groups and activities
• attend community events
• develop skills and experience that support education, training and employment goals.

Domestic abuse support

If you're experiencing domestic abuse, or have previously experienced it, we can support you to access the help and services that are right for you. Your leaving care personal adviser can help you understand your options and support you to access specialist services.

Local domestic abuse support services

Hertfordshire Domestic Abuse Helpline – a confidential, free, support and signposting service for anyone affected by domestic abuse.

Safer Places – support for all adult and child victims of domestic abuse across Hertfordshire and Essex.

Herts Sunflower – information and advice for anyone in Hertfordshire who has been affected by Violence Against Women and Girls.

National / specialist support for women

Refuge and National Domestic Abuse Helpline – a large domestic abuse organisation for women and children, which runs a 24-hour national helpline.

Women’s Aid Domestic Violence Helpline – a national charity working to end domestic abuse against women and children.

FLOWS (Finding Legal Options for Women Survivors) – legal support service to help protect women against domestic abuse.

Sharan Project – support for vulnerable women, particularly of South Asian origin, who have been disowned.

Sistah Space – support for women and girls, particularly of African and Caribbean origin, who are affected by domestic abuse.

Specialist support for men

Men’s Advice Line – confidential helpline for male victims of domestic abuse.

ManKind Initiative – confidential helpline for male victims of domestic abuse and domestic violence.

Free relationship support services

Mediation Hertfordshire – mediation can help you resolve conflicts with family, neighbours and employers.

Relate – counselling and relationship support by text, email, phone or live chat.

Services for Young People – they run relationship support projects in some areas.