local offer for · local offer for devon’s care leavers 2018 what corporate parents must do for...
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Local Offer for
Devon’s Care Leavers 2018
The law in England requires local authorities to publish a “Local Offer” for care
leavers aged 16 - 25.
This means Devon County Council Children’s Services must provide information
about all the services and support that is available to you, in the local area where
you live, when you leave care.
It should include information about your rights and any extra support that the
council might be able to give.
Local Offer for
Devon’s Care Leavers 2018
You have a legal right to information about the help we can provide for:
Health and
wellbeing
Relationships &
Keeping safe
Education and
training
Employment
Accommodation
Participation
Finances
Local Offer for
Devon’s Care Leavers 2018
Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children (UASC)
You also have the right to the leaving care service.
You will get legal advice so that you can make an asylum application in the UK.
Care Leaver Status: who is the offer for?
All children who are over 16 and leaving care fall within one of the following categories: eligible child relevant child; former relevant child other qualifying care leavers To be considered an “Eligible child” for care leaver support, you must be aged 16 and 17, been looked after for at least 13 weeks since the age of 14, and still be in care.
A “Relevant child” is a child aged 16 and 17 who has been looked after for at least
13 weeks since the age of 14 and who has left care. This also includes young people
who were detained (e.g. in a youth offending institution or hospital) when they
turned 16, but who were in care immediately before being detained.
A “Former relevant child” is a young person over 18 who was previously ‘eligible’
or ‘relevant’. Councils support this group until aged 25.
A “Qualifying child” is any young person under 21 who stops being looked after
or accommodated in a variety of other settings, or being privately fostered, after
the age of 16. This also includes young people who were in care prior to being
cared for under a special guardianship order. Councils will also support this group
until aged 25.
Local Offer for
Devon’s Care Leavers 2018
What Corporate Parents must do for all care leavers:
• Promote physical, mental health and well being
• Support and encourage young people to share wishes, views and feelings and to
take these into account
• Support young people to access and make use of services provided by Devon
County Council
• Promote high aspirations and secure the best outcomes for young people
• Keep young people safe, and stable in their home lives, relationships and
education or work;
• Prepare children and young people for adulthood and independent living
Your rights and extra support
You have a right to be heard and taken seriously.
You have a right to be involved in all decisions about your plans for leaving care.
You will have a pathway plan that you produce with the support of your social worker/ Personal advisor which helps you identify your future goals and aspirations and how we will work together to achieve these.
You have a right to support from an independent advocate if you are thinking about challenging any decisions about the care we give you.
We will support you to access your records should you wish to see them.
Along the way you may be supported by the Virtual School, youth workers, College Staff, Careers Advisors, Foster carers, Housing key workers, or the Children in Care Council (CICC).
Local Offer for
Devon’s Care Leavers 2018
How will we support you?
Health and Wellbeing
• We will support you to attend an annual health assessment, dental and optician’s appointments and provide advice and guidance on living a healthy lifestyle.
• We can give you help with transport costs when attending health appointments depending on financial circumstances.
• We will support you to register with a GP.
• If you need emotional health and well-being advice we will support you to access
the right level of support.
• We will give you a health passport at 16 years old so that you know your health history.
• OVER 18 - The Specialist Nurses for Young People in care are still more than
happy for you to contact them about any health question
• If you are a young parent we will take an interest in your children and offer you advice to support you to do the best for them.
Local Offer for
Devon’s Care Leavers 2018
Relationships and Keeping safe
• Our aim, wherever possible, is to provide you with a consistent Social Worker to
support you from 16 – 18 years. If you move places, we will visit you within 1
week on the first visit, and a minimum of every 6 weeks thereafter.
• From 16-21 you will have an allocated PA who can support you to get the all the
services and support you need.
• Where appropriate, we will help you to continue your contact with your
independent visitor (if you have one).
• We will help you to regain or maintain contact with people who are special to
you.
• If you move after you turn 18: if you are 21 or under, we will visit you in the first
week. We will then visit you again after 4 weeks. We will agree with you, how
you would like your contact including how often. This will be at the least, every
8 weeks.
• If you need advice, guidance
and support while you are 21 –
25 years of age you can
request ask for a Personal
Advisor. Their job is to support
you to overcome challenges
that you may be facing.
Local Offer for
Devon’s Care Leavers 2018
Education and Training
• We will be creative in supporting you to
engage with activities to build self-esteem
and confidence.
• We will help with going to college -
and help you to choose the right course for
you.
1. The Virtual School will help you develop a Personal Occupation Progression Plan which will include any support needs you may
have for post 16 education or training, we will then work with you and your provider to make sure you are successful.
2. Your plan will be reviewed twice a year and more often if needed.
3. We will help you to access the 16+ bursary - You may also be entitled to claim an Education Bursary through your school,
college or training provider. See www.gov.uk/1619-bursary-fund/overview for more information.
4. We will buy vouchers for you if you gain a qualification or complete a training course.
5. You will continue to have access to a Careers South West Advisor if necessary into your post 16 provision.
6. If you are in Further Education on a full time course an additional allowance can be claimed to cover the costs of books,
stationary and equipment
Help at college
a Personal Occupation Progression
Plan1,2
the 16+ bursary3
vouchers if you gain a
qualification or complete
a training course4
Careers South West
Advisor5
allowance to cover the
costs of books,
stationary and
equipment6
Local Offer for
Devon’s Care Leavers 2018
• We can support you if you
choose to go to
university by
visiting university with you or
providing travel costs for the
visit.
• We will support you to get
tuition fees and maintenance
loans.
We will your success!
Help at universityA bursary per academic year
to cover accommodation
costs during term time.
(This will be paid in termly
instalments)
A weekly living allowance
Help with vacation
accommodation
Liaise with the nominated
support worker at the
university to ensure all
available help is accessed
Local Offer for
Devon’s Care Leavers 2018
Employment
We will support you
to do work experience and voluntary work
We will support
you to apply for
apprenticeships
We can support things like:
getting CITB (Construction Industry
Training Board) tested and your
cards so that you can work in
construction or gain other vehicle
licences to help with your
employability
Local Offer for
Devon’s Care Leavers 2018
Finances
• We will support and fund you to apply for identifying
documentation ie passport, provisional licence and your
National Insurance number before you turn 18 if you are
eligible.
• We will help you open a bank account and support you to gain
access to your junior ISA.
• We will support you to set up home, a care leaver grant to
help to purchase items to fully furnish your new home.
• Care leavers who are 16-17 years of age living in supported
accommodation will be provided with a weekly allowance
equivalent to benefits to support them to live independently.
• We will provide you with a financial gift on your birthday and
provide a Christmas or festival allowance up to the age of 18.
• We will advise you on what support is available in an emergency situation.
• We will work with the job centre and benefit agencies, if
you agree, to resolve any issues for you and ask that your
Personal Advisor (or duty worker) is contacted before any
sanction is put in place.
• From the age of 16 until 21 You will have a PA who has
knowledge of benefits and the claims process.
• We will provide financial education for all care leavers
and debt management support when needed.
• See entitlements for care leavers
Local Offer for
Devon’s Care Leavers 2018
Accommodation
• If you are 16 or 17, we will support you in
finding a safe housing option that meets
your needs and help you to understand
your rights and entitlements if you decide
to leave care.
• We will give you the option to stay put
with your foster carer until you are 21 if
you and your foster carer agree to this and
this is seen to be the best thing for you.
• We will provide practical support for you to move to different accommodation
when needed.
• We will support you when you reach 18 years and above to find somewhere
suitable to live, listening to your wishes and needs as outlined in the
Homelessness Act 2017, you will have a priority with the housing department
who we will work with on your behalf.
• We will support you as a guarantor. A guarantor is someone who vouches for
you legally and agrees to be responsible for your rental costs if you fail to
make payments. If an assessment advises that you are ready and able.
• We may support your exemption from Council Tax (where you live in an area
where this applies) - If you are over 18 and live in privately rented
accommodation you will need to pay council tax. You may be entitled to some
exemptions if you are in education (over 21 hours per week) or are
unemployed
• We will support you with driving lessons - If you pay for 5 lessons DCC will pay
for a further 5, ongoing lessons will need to be met in cost 50-50 up to a
maximum of 10 lessons.
• We can also support you to gain your CBT motorcycle training
Local Offer for
Devon’s Care Leavers 2018
Participation
• We will support you to find information on clubs and groups that you may wish
to join.
• We will inform you of different awards, schemes and competitions that you
want to enter online with your interests.
• We will give you an opportunity to participate in the Children in Care Council.
• We will support you to enrol on the electoral register if you are eligible.
• We will give you advice to support you to challenge any discrimination that
you may experience as a care leaver.
More information MOMO – Mind of My Own is an app you can download to your mobile phone to have your say about a meeting, change something that you are not happy with in a plan or make a complaint. STAND UP SPEAK UP (SUSU) - is the website that is the voice of children in care and care leavers in Devon. It is full of useful information about what’s going on, opportunities to get involved and other important things - like this leaving care guide and social groups. www.standupspeakup.org.uk If you aren’t happy with your experience of the services we provide you can make a complaint about it. To help with this, you can refer yourself to the National Youth Advocacy Service (NYAS). This is COMPLETELY FREE to access. They are independent and are not part of Devon County Council. Tel: 0808 808 1001 [email protected] If you need any support, want to access a service or just need to talk to someone who can help you, you can contact your local Children’s Services on the following numbers: Exeter 07581156261 South Devon 01392 384797 North Devon 07790770713
Mid/East Devon 01392 384121