Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council has made care experience a protected characteristic.
Care Leaver Local Offer
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole 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 a document: Download Ofsted Inspection report 11/02/2022 Download Children's services monitoring visit
as an app: No
At Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council care leavers co-produce the local offer.
Details:
The Insight Group have contributed
The best person to contact regarding the Local Offer is:
Name:
Farah Khalid
Email Address:
[email protected]
Telephone:
07825503118
The Director responsible for Children's Services is:
Name:
Ms Cathi Hadley
Email Address:
[email protected]
Council Tax
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council has exempted care leavers from Council Tax
Council tax is exempted up to the age of: Yes – upto 25 years old and they need to complete a form that the Personal Advisor will support.
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council includes care leavers from other areas in their council tax exemption policy
To apply care leavers need to:
Yes – upto 25 years old and they need to complete a form that the Personal Advisor will support.
Housing
Care leavers receive priority for social housing
Priority is offered up to the age of: 21
Banding priority is: gold
Additional information / how to qualify:
They are supported with Housing Applications and have joint housing assessments.
Care leavers get to practice independent living with taster flats
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council will not in principle assist as a guarantor for care leavers in private rented property
Details:
At the discretion of senior management.
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council will not in principle assist with providing a deposit for care leavers in private rented property
Details:
Via Housing
Setting up a home
Care leavers are provided with a setting up allowance
Allowance amount: ££3000
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council will not in principle assist with support to pay at least the first year TV licence for care leavers
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council will not in principle assist with support to pay at least the first year home contents insurance for care leavers
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council will not in principle assist with support to pay for redecoration costs of a care leavers first flat
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council will not in principle assist with support with broadband costs for care leavers
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council will not in principle assist with support with mobile phone costs for care leavers
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council will pay towards cooking equipment for care leavers
Employment and Apprenticeships
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council offers work experience within the council for care leavers
Number of places per year: Once a year at least.
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council will pay for work/interview clothes
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council will pay towards travel to work or training
There are no ringfenced apprenticeship vacancies for care leavers at Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council
There are no care leavers working as apprenticeships within Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council
Additional information about work and training:
We have a Virtual School that supports.
Participation in Society
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council will ensure each young person has ID documents when they leave care
Passport: Yes
Provisional Driving Licence: Yes
Birth Certificate: Yes
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council in principle will assist with driving lessons
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council in principle will assist with driving theory tests
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council in principle will assist with driving tests
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council in principle will assist with CBT tests
Partners local to Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole 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 do not have the opportunity for mentoring with any of the senior leadership team
Additional details:
This is something we are exploring at present.
Children in care and care leavers council
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council has a children in care and care leavers council
Details of council:
This information is held by Jo Fry - [email protected]
Insight over 18 years old.
Ignite under 18 years old.
Children in care and care leavers council has its own bank account
Children in care and care leavers council has its own constitution
Details:
Jo Fry would have this information.
Health and Wellbeing
Care leavers do not get free access to leisure facilities as part of the Local Offer
Special Occasions
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council pays towards Christmas and other religious celebrations for care leavers
Details:
£75.00 Christmas/or Cultural Festivals as such Eid/Passover
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council pays towards birthday celebrations for care leavers
Details:
£50
Relationships
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council has peer mentors (other care leavers)
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council does not have other mentoring schemes
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 do not get emotional support before, during and after disclosure
Details:
FOI they can.
Steps to Wellbeing available.
Facts and Figures
Number of looked after children since 2014
| 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 431 | 486 | 516 |
|---|
Percentage of care leavers (aged 19 to 21) going onto NEET
| 2026 | TBC |
|---|
Political Control
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council is a Conservative controlled council
Ofsted Ratings
Publication date: 11 February 2022
Overall effectiveness: Inadequate
Experiences and progress of children in care: N/A
Experiences and progress of care leavers: Requires Improvement
Impact of leaders on social work practice with children and families: Inadequate
Last updated on: 23 February 2024
If you think this information needs updating then please get in touch