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 help@nyas.net 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