Blackpool Council has not made care experience a protected characteristic.
Care Leaver Local Offer
Blackpool Council has published a Local Offer for Care Leavers in accordance with Section 2 of the Children and Social Work Act 2017
The Local Offer is available:
on the web: Yes - view Local Offer here
as an app: Yes - Blackpool Family Rocks
At Blackpool Council care leavers co-produce the local offer.
Details:
Our Care Leavers were part of producing the original offer and the most recent refresh of the offer. They made decisions re the format, presentation and information that they would like to see contained under the specified headings.
The best person to contact regarding the Local Offer is:
Name:
Mark McElroy
Email Address:
[email protected]
Telephone:
07881 281573
The Director responsible for Children's Services is:
Name:
Ms Victoria Gent
Email Address:
[email protected]
Council Tax
Blackpool Council has exempted care leavers from Council Tax
Council tax is exempted up to the age of: 21
Blackpool Council does not include care leavers from other areas in their council tax exemption policy
To apply care leavers need to:
In Blackpool we operate a tapered approach to supporting the payment of council tax.
This is underpinned by the principal that we are getting our children ready for independent living where they will have full responsibility for paying their own Council Tax.
Financial expectation for Young People/Person (YP)
Tax year in which 18th birthday falls -The LA pay 85% BYPS contribution and YP pays 15%
Tax year in which 19th birthday falls -The LA pay 70% BYPS contribution and YP pays 30%
Tax year in which 20th birthday falls -The LA pay 55% BYPS contribution and YP pays 45%
Tax year in which 21st birthday falls -The LA pay 30% BYPS contribution and YP pays 70%
Please note: The contribution will be applied after any existing discounts such as single person-25% discount, low income 27%, discount if not working etc. Where there is more there one person in the property, they are jointly liable, however the % contribution above will remain as above.
The reduction is automatically applied following the receipt of the first council tax bill.
This applies to our young people who also live outside of Blackpool.
Housing
Care leavers do not receive priority for social housing
Care leavers get to practice independent living with taster flats
Additional information:
The Leaving Care Team have a monthly housing clinic with Housing Colleagues to explore housing routes for our young people this includes a Positive Transitions model supporting access to social housing and tenancy support and Williams Lyons House to support young people now ready to live independently.
Blackpool Council will not in principle assist as a guarantor for care leavers in private rented property
Blackpool Council in principle will assist with providing a deposit for care leavers in private rented property
Details:
The Local Authority will provide the deposit amount for a Private Rented property where the rent amount does not exceed the Housing Allowance amount for the area.
Setting up a home
Care leavers are provided with a setting up allowance
Allowance amount: ££1550
Blackpool Council in principle will assist with support to pay at least the first year TV licence for care leavers
Blackpool Council in principle will assist with support to pay at least the first year home contents insurance for care leavers
Blackpool Council in principle will assist with support to pay for redecoration costs of a care leavers first flat
Blackpool Council will not in principle assist with support with broadband costs for care leavers
Blackpool Council will not in principle assist with support with mobile phone costs for care leavers
Blackpool Council will pay towards cooking equipment for care leavers
Employment and Apprenticeships
Blackpool Council offers work experience within the council for care leavers
Number of places per year: No Cap
Blackpool Council will pay for work/interview clothes
Blackpool Council will pay towards travel to work or training
There are ringfenced apprenticeship vacancies for care leavers at Blackpool Council
No Cap apprenticeship vacancies are ringfenced a year
Care leavers are working as apprenticeships within Blackpool Council
Number per year: 2
Additional information about work and training:
We have a specialist employment adviser and advance practitioner within our leaving care team to provide additional support to our young people. We have a suite of work placement opportunities from both within the LA and our arm’s length companies.
Participation in Society
Blackpool Council will ensure each young person has ID documents when they leave care
Passport: Yes
Provisional Driving Licence: Yes
Birth Certificate: Yes
Blackpool Council in principle will assist with driving lessons
Blackpool Council in principle will assist with driving theory tests
Blackpool Council in principle will assist with driving tests
Blackpool Council in principle will assist with CBT tests
Partners local to Blackpool Council do not offer support with free travel for care leavers
Access to corporate parents
Care leavers have the opportunity to meet with their corporate parents (councillors)
Care leavers have the opportunity for mentoring with any of the senior leadership team
Additional details:
Opportunities as part of Friends for Life and Take over events
Children in care and care leavers council
Blackpool Council has a children in care and care leavers council
Details of council:
We have a children in care council (Justuz) and a Leaving care forum
Children in care and care leavers council has its own bank account
Children in care and care leavers council has its own constitution
Details:
In Blackpool we have the Pledge which is a document outlining the local authorities promises to our children.
Health and Wellbeing
Care leavers get free access to leisure facilities as part of the Local Offer
Free gym membership: Yes
Free swimming: Yes
Free classes: No
Free leisure up to the age of: 25
They can take a friend for free
Details to apply:
Our young people are given access to council facilities via a Passport to Leisure. Personal Advisor support access to leisure facilities.
Special Occasions
Blackpool Council pays towards Christmas and other religious celebrations for care leavers
Details:
Young people will be given a choice as to when they spend their Religious Festival Allowance. Where they do not stipulate a preference, the allowance should be made available at Christmas to ensure they receive their entitlement.
Blackpool Council pays towards birthday celebrations for care leavers
Details:
Allowance is available for a present and birthday meal. The amount varies depending on the age.
Relationships
Blackpool Council does not have peer mentors (other care leavers)
Blackpool Council has other mentoring schemes
Details:
Friends for Life
Access to care files
Young people do not have to go through the complaints dept to access their care files
Young people who access their care files get emotional support before, during and after disclosure
Details:
Access is through the Information Governance Team as a subject access request.
Preparation is completed with the young person to ensure that they are appropriately supported in being ready to read their files. The Personal Advisor or other relevant person will also liaise with information governance as to the content of the files so that they can be prepared for any emotional distress that this may cause a young person. There are also discussions as to the best way to present the files i.e as one whole file or in chunks to make it more manageable for the young person. The Personal Advisor will also support the young person whilst they are reading the files and where appropriate note any questions that they have that they would like support in answering. This is done whilst ensuring that the young person is aware that they may not be able to source the answers. There is also support for the young person following the reading of the files, checking in with the young person and organizing structured 1:1 key working sessions.
Facts and Figures
Number of looked after children since 2014
| 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 454 | 469 | 525 | 533 | 568 | 653 | 609 | 609 | 539 |
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Number of care leavers by age, year ending 31st March 2021
| 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | Total | 42 | 40 | 43 | 35 | 46 | 50 | 45 | 49 | 40 | 390 |
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Percentage of care leavers going onto NEET since 2014
| 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 52% | n/a | 38% | 49% | 53% | 57% | 51% | 46% | 38% |
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Political Control
Blackpool Council is a Labour controlled council
Ofsted Ratings
Publication date: 01 February 2023
Overall effectiveness: Requires Improvement
Experiences and progress of children in care: N/A
Experiences and progress of care leavers: N/A
Impact of leaders on social work practice with children and families: Requires Improvement
If you think this information needs updating then please get in touch