For most young people, turning 18 does not mean moving out. They stay in the family home, supported and connected, while they navigate education, work, and the beginnings of adult independence. For young people leaving care, it used to mean the end of everything. Staying Put changed that.
What is Staying Put?
Staying Put is an arrangement that allows young people to remain living with their former foster carers after their 18th birthday, until they turn 21. It was introduced under the Children and Families Act 2014 and came into force in England in 2014.
Under Staying Put, the young person is no longer a looked-after child. Their legal status changes on their 18th birthday. But they can continue to live in the same home, with the same carers, in a family-like arrangement that supports their gradual transition to independence. The arrangement must be mutually agreed by both the young person and the carer.
Why Staying Put matters
The evidence on outcomes for young people leaving care in the UK is stark. Care leavers are significantly more likely than their peers to experience homelessness, unemployment, mental health difficulties, involvement with the criminal justice system, and social isolation. They are also more likely to leave education early and less likely to go on to higher education.
A significant part of the reason is the abruptness of the transition. Being told at 18 that you must leave the only stable home you have known, just as you are starting to settle, just as trust is beginning to build, is a profound rupture. It replays the losses that brought many young people into care in the first place.
Staying Put changes this. Research shows that young people who stay with their foster carers beyond 18 have better outcomes across almost every measure: higher rates of education and employment, lower rates of homelessness and mental health crisis, and greater social connectedness.
"She didn't need to stay forever. She just needed to know that the option was there. That she wouldn't be pushed out the door on her birthday. That changed everything about how she felt about the future." Epiphany Foster Carer, Birmingham
The legal framework
When a young person turns 18, their legal status changes from looked-after child to care leaver. The local authority retains duties towards care leavers under the Children (Leaving Care) Act 2000, updated by subsequent legislation. These include the appointment of a Personal Adviser and the development of a Pathway Plan setting out how their transition to adulthood will be supported.
In a Staying Put arrangement, the foster carer is no longer acting in a regulated fostering capacity. The arrangement is more akin to a lodging arrangement, although in practice it functions as a continuation of the family relationship. The local authority retains financial responsibility for the arrangement until the young person turns 21.
Epiphany's team will guide you through all the legal and administrative changes that occur when a young person in your care turns 18, well in advance of the date.
Payments and finances
During a Staying Put arrangement, foster carers receive an allowance from the local authority to cover the costs of the young person's keep. This is typically lower than the fostering allowance paid during the care placement, reflecting the change in the young person's status and greater independence. The professional fee element ceases when the young person turns 18.
Rates vary between local authorities, and Epiphany will negotiate on your behalf and ensure you receive a fair arrangement. The young person themselves may also be entitled to benefits including Universal Credit and, if in higher education, student finance.
We strongly recommend working through the financial arrangements in advance, with support from Epiphany's team, so that both you and the young person understand what to expect from their 18th birthday onwards.
Practical arrangements
Staying Put works best when the transition from looked-after child to young adult in the home is handled thoughtfully. Some things to consider:
- Household contributions. From 18, the young person may be expected to contribute to household tasks and, where appropriate, household costs. This is part of preparing them for independence, not a punitive change.
- Boundaries and house rules. The expectation of a young adult in the home will be different from those of a child. Having a clear, honest conversation about what this looks like in your household prevents misunderstanding.
- Privacy and autonomy. An 18-year-old needs more autonomy and privacy than a 14-year-old. Safe caring protocols and supervision levels will change. Epiphany will advise on what this means in practice.
- Planning for eventually moving on. Staying Put is not permanent. It is a bridge. Part of the work during this period is helping the young person develop the practical skills, financial literacy, and social network they will need when they do move on.
Supporting the transition to adult life
The period between 18 and 21 is a critical time for young people who have been in care. Whether they are at college, in work, or navigating the benefits system, they need support that is responsive, practical, and emotionally attuned.
- Help with cooking, managing a budget, and understanding bills and contracts
- Support with applications for jobs, university, apprenticeships, or training
- Being a sounding board for decisions without making decisions for them
- Continuing to be a reliable presence, even as their need for day-to-day parenting reduces
- Celebrating achievements, big and small: their first pay slip, their driving test, their exam results
The young person's Personal Adviser, appointed by the local authority, will also provide support during this period. Staying in regular contact with the PA, sharing your observations and concerns, and collaborating on the Pathway Plan all form part of the team around the young person.
When they are ready to leave
The goal of Staying Put is not to prevent young people from leaving. It is to ensure they leave when they are ready, with the skills and confidence they need, rather than when a birthday date forces them out.
Some young people will be ready to move on at 19. Others will benefit from the full period until 21. There is no single right timeline. What matters is that the move to independence is planned, supported, and celebrated rather than abrupt and frightening.
And the relationship you have built does not end when they leave. Many former foster children and carers maintain lifelong connections. They come back for Christmas. They ring when things are difficult. They introduce you to their partners and, eventually, their children. That is the legacy of Staying Put, and of fostering itself.