Goal 2: Build Strong Relationships

We recognise that having strong, lasting relationships is one of the most important factors in helping care-experienced young people thrive. We will support you to build, maintain, strengthen, and where appropriate reconnect with the people who matter most to you. These may include family members, friends, former carers, mentors, professionals and other trusted adults. We want you to develop a strong sense of belonging, identity, and support throughout your life. Here are some ways we can help you build and maintain these important relationships.

• Stay in Touch: We will keep in touch with you until you turn 25, even if you don’t need our services anymore.
• Enduring Relationships Hub: Enfield is developing a specialist Hub which will focus on helping children in care and care leavers identify, build and maintain lifelong supportive relationships with trusted adults, family members, mentors and friends.
• Lifelong Links: We can help you to reconnect and strengthen relationships with people who are special to you through our Lifelong Links Service like family, friends and other important people (could be your old foster carer or an independent visitor). Your Social Worker or Personal Advisor can talk with you about this.
• Keeping Close: Through our Keeping Close Project, some young people can continue to receive additional support and maintain important relationships while preparing for greater independence. The project helps reduce isolation and provides extra practical and emotional support during the move towards adulthood.
• Bereavement Support: If someone important to you dies, we can help you access emotional and practical support.
• Independent Reviewing Officer (IRO) Support Post 18: Where appropriate, and with agreement from all involved, care leavers may continue to access support, advice and guidance from their former IRO after their 18th birthday to help them understand decisions, reflect on their journey and maintain continuity of support during their transition into adulthood.
• Visitors and Mentors: If you are under 18, we can connect you with an independent visitor. If you are 18 or older, we can link you with different mentors.
• Care Leavers Hub: This is a friendly place where you can meet with your Social Worker or Personal Advisor. You can also join group activities and workshops with other Care Leavers. The Hub also hosts support groups and opportunities to meet other care-experienced young people including for young people who are LGBTQ+, young parents or Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Young People.
• Care Leavers Forum: You can join this group, which meets every month. It’s a great way to make lasting friendships and get support even after leaving care.
• Youth Activities: You can join different activities and opportunities offered by Enfield Youth Service, which are open to all young people living in Enfield.