Pathway plan

A pathway plan is a care plan. It details the services and support you will need when you start living independently. 

The plan should:

• Be written with you
• Explain all of the plans you have for your future

It is written when you are around 16. Your social worker and personal adviser will talk to you about a needs assessment. They will work with you to:

• Write down your plans and goals for the future
• Think about what needs to be done to achieve them 
• Consider what help they can give you

Further information

Take a look at the 'Pathway to success' factsheet on the Become charity website.

The plan must include:

• Where you plan to live when you turn 18
• What you plan to do once you leave school
• How we can support you to be healthy
• What skills you need to develop so you can live independently
• Who will support you to achieve your goals
• What financial help you will need to help you achieve your goals
• Anything else that is important to you

No two plans will look the same as they are individual to you.

The plan is reviewed every six months, until you are 18. Changes to the plan will usually be agreed at your statutory review. However you can change your mind and ask for your pathway plan to be reviewed before the six months is up. This should definitely happen if:

• You move out of a residential unit, hostel or foster carer's home
• You give up the course, job or apprenticeship you were doing
• You need additional help to continue what is in your plan. For example, you need to take an extra course or need expensive equipment, that you were not aware of

When you turn 18, your statutory review can be a meeting with you and your personal adviser.

The team manager of your leaving care team will sign off any changes.