Introduction to Better Futures
Working together to support transitiong
Supporting young people to transition from care is not the job of one person or one service. It works best when care services, Better Futures staff, leadership and community partnerships pull in the same direction.
When roles are clear and coordinated, young people experience:
- more continuity (less starting over)
- stronger relationships (trust and follow‑through)
- better access to opportunity (people, places and pathways beyond services)
Below is a quick guide to what each Better Futures role contributes when done consistently.
In care services
Care services support young people’s transition from care by:
- Treating young people as adults and involve them in decisions and contributions to their 15+ Care and Transition Plan and cultural planning (where relevant) to strengthen dignity and long-term skill-building.
- Sharing timely, relevant information (including the 15+ Care and Transitions Plan and cultural planning where relevant) with consent, to help Development Coaches and Community Connectors provide targeted, meaningful support
- Making available ongoing opportunities over time for young people to develop independent living skills
- Having all essential documentation, identification, possessions and life records accessible to the young person.
- Coordinate with Development Coaches early on transitions to smooth handovers and reduce crisis moments.
- Encourage responsibility by scaffolding to build capability, not ‘rescuing’ at times of crisis.
- Be open to flexible uses of Home Stretch or local supports to expand practical options for sustainable outcomes.
Better Futures Leadership (Team Leaders/Managers)
Leaders enable Advantaged Thinking practice by:
- Modelling strengths‑based language and high expectations
- Keeping rules and processes simple, clear and transparent
- Protecting supervision and reflective practice time
- Supporting workforce capability (training + Communities of Practice)
- Removing unnecessary barriers to using Better Futures flexible funding
- Collaborating with DFFH and sector partners to strengthen consistent practice.
Leadership sets the conditions for good practice: an enabling culture, clarity and support.
Development Coaches
Development Coaches support young people directly by:
- Providing secondary consultation to care teams and services and contributing to goals and actions in the young person’s 15+ Care and Transition Plan
- Asking curious, non-judgmental questions
- Supporting goal setting and co‑creating plans with the young person
- Using strengths‑based language and celebrating wins
- Supporting access while ‘doing with’ to build capability
- Maintaining agreed, flexible check‑ins, including minimum quarterly contact when a young person is on active hold
- Documenting decisions and next steps clearly and simply
Community Connectors
Community Connectors strengthen pathways beyond services by:
- Mapping and nurturing local opportunities and community networks
- Brokering warm introductions and connections
- Identifying system gaps and feeding patterns back to teams
- Creating low‑barrier, scalable opportunities young people can take up
- Sharing timely opportunities with Development Coaches
- Working alongside Development Coaches to ensure opportunities align with transition planning while care team retain responsibility during the in care phase.