Part 8Provision of assistance to care leavers

Part 8—Provision of assistance to care leavers 111—Chief Executive to assist persons leaving care (1) The Chief Executive must, in relation to each child or young person who is lawfully leaving the care of a person in whose guardianship or custody they have been placed under this Act, and in consultation with the child or young person, prepare a plan setting out steps to assist the child or young person in making their transition from care. (2) The Department, and any other State authority specified by the Chief Executive in a plan under this section, is to take reasonable steps to implement the plan. (3) However, a plan under this section does not create legally enforceable rights or entitlements. 112—Minister to arrange assistance for eligible care leavers (1) The Minister must cause such assistance as the Minister thinks appropriate to be offered to each eligible care leaver for the purposes of making their transition from care as easy as is reasonably practicable. (2) Without limiting the kinds of assistance that may be offered to an eligible care leaver, such assistance may include 1 or more of the following: (a) the provision of information about Government and other resources and services available to the eligible care leaver; (b) the provision of education and training services; (c) assistance in finding accommodation; (d) assistance in finding employment; (e) assistance in accessing legal advice and health services; (f) counselling and support services. (3) If an eligible care leaver accepts an offer of assistance, the Minister must take reasonable steps to provide such assistance, or cause such assistance to be provided, to the eligible care leaver. (4) To avoid doubt, assistance may, at the discretion of the Minister, be provided for a specified period or until a person ceases to be an eligible care leaver. (5) However, an offer of assistance under this section does not create legally enforceable rights or entitlements. (6) In this section— eligible care leaver—a person is an eligible care leaver if the person— (a) is more than 16, but less than 26, years of age; and (b) was, at any stage, under the guardianship or custody of the Chief Executive or another person pursuant to this Act or the Children's Protection Act 1993 for a period of 6 months or more (or such lesser period as may be allowed by the Minister).