16 year old been kicked out by parents.

[WornOutJo]

My daughter's friend has been told to leave by his parents and is currently staying with us. I rang social services on Friday, but nobody has got back to me yet.

From what I can gather the mother is a bi polar alcoholic, and the father isn't much better. He is a lovely lad, trying to study hard during his GCSEs, gets up early to do a paper round, is polite and no trouble. I am aware though that there are always 2 sides to every story.

What can I do to help him? Are the legally allowed to throw him out at 16? You can't be fostered once you reach 16 I understand, you get put in assisted living, which seems quite harsh, I don't know any 16 years olds that could live alone.

Just looking for some advice on how I can help him through this. I'm happy for him to stay for a while, but not sure about permantly, not sure we can afford another teenager!

Thank you for reading.

They can throw him out yes. If you don't keep him, he will probably be given accommodation in a house of multiple occupancy or a hostel. These places tend to be populated with drug addicts and criminals.

If you could keep him you might get some benefits for him to assist with costs.

God how awful. Yes they can chuck him out unfortunately. Can he call childline if he needs to talk to someone independent.

Hopefully social services will get back to you or try the local council on Tuesday.

At 16 they can be fostered (this changed a while back) or they can go into a teenager unit with support workers. Alternatively if someone is willing to have them stay, social services can provide an allowance to cover costs. Several oft DD's friends were kicked out, all due to sexuality, and the ymca was where they went initially except one that lived with a teacher and her husband and another foster parents, most were allocated council flats at 18 but the teacher I know is still fostering him at 20 (you can stay in foster care later now)

16 year olds can be fostered but it's not automatic. He needs to get to the office of whatever young person's housing support service you have in that area and they can make the appropriate referrals.
Don't assume you'll get any money from social services- they would only pay an allowance if they deemed it unsafe for the child to go home and supported him living with you. Otherwise they will tell you to apply for the relevant benefits and wish you luck.

When I was told to leave I phoned the council housing offices and explained a little over the phone. I was given an appointment that same week with a housing officer, who made referrals to a couple charities and accommodation places.
I was offered somewhere to live within a few weeks.
It all takes a long time though as he's classed as safe whilst staying with you, and they conduct interviews and have all sorts of hoops to jump through.

Poor lad! Is he in the middle of GCSE's too? I think if you could just give him a secure base till he's finished his exams that would be really kind and a big support for him.
If he is in middle of exams, please encourage him to tell school after half term as they may be able to report it to the exam board for special consideration. It won't make a lot of difference unless he is borderline between 2 grades where he might be given the higher one if special consideration is given.
Longer term, if you were willing to have him with financial support, maybe he might get some sort of allowance? If you were willing to have him he's got to be better off with you than in a hostel with people he doesn't know surely? Are Social Services involved with his family already? Hope you get some answers from SS on Tuesday.

If he stays in education and lives with you then you would be able to claim child benefit for him if nothing else, I think.

You sound so lovely - thank God for people like you willing to take vulnerable children under their wing.