Calderdale Borough Council

Care leavers receive priority for social housing

Priority is offered up to the age of: 21

Banding priority is: Band 1 (formerly Gold Banding)

Additional information / how to qualify:
· PA makes Referral to Calderdale Young Person’s Housing Team
· YP Housing Team/PA will complete a housing application to our Be-With-US Housing Portal. This covers all main local social housing providers in Calderdale and flag that identifies as a care leaver which gives automatic priority banding
· Young person or PA or YP Housing Team worker can support to bid for properties

Care leavers get to practice independent living with taster flats

Additional information:
Calderdale Pathways Service has the LaunchPad Housing project - this is a stepping stone to support young people to feel ready to move into their own independent tenancy. This is effectively a starter flat with support attached to it which young people can access based on their level of need.

Calderdale Borough Council will not in principle assist as a guarantor for care leavers in private rented property

Calderdale Borough Council in principle will assist with providing a deposit for care leavers in private rented property

Details:
Our financial policy allows up to £500.00 within setting up home allowance to fund a rent deposit if required.

Care leavers are provided with a setting up allowance

Allowance amount: ££3000

Calderdale Borough Council in principle will assist with support to pay at least the first year TV licence for care leavers

Calderdale Borough Council in principle will assist with support to pay at least the first year home contents insurance for care leavers

Calderdale Borough Council in principle will assist with support to pay for redecoration costs of a care leavers first flat

Calderdale Borough Council in principle will assist with support with broadband costs for care leavers

Calderdale Borough Council will not in principle assist with support with mobile phone costs for care leavers

Calderdale Borough Council will pay towards cooking equipment for care leavers

Calderdale Borough Council offers work experience within the council for care leavers

Number of places per year: 1 this year and more as part of Takeover day

Calderdale Borough Council will pay for work/interview clothes

Calderdale Borough Council will pay towards travel to work or training

There are no ringfenced apprenticeship vacancies for care leavers at Calderdale Borough Council

Care leavers are working as apprenticeships within Calderdale Borough Council

Number per year: 2

Additional information about work and training:
All care leavers, who meet the qualification requirements, are guaranteed a interview for apprenticeships and employment opportunities within the council.

Calderdale Borough Council will ensure each young person has ID documents when they leave care

Passport: Yes

Provisional Driving Licence: Yes

Birth Certificate: Yes

Calderdale Borough Council in principle will assist with driving lessons

Calderdale Borough Council in principle will assist with driving theory tests

Calderdale Borough Council in principle will assist with driving tests

Calderdale Borough Council in principle will assist with CBT tests

Partners local to Calderdale Borough Council do not offer support with free travel for care leavers

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:
We are currently reviewing our Corporate Parenting Strategy and will be looking to expand opportunities for mentoring and with local councillors.

Calderdale Borough Council has a children in care and care leavers council

Details of council:
The Council have the Right to Voice Group – Children in Care Council and a +18 group UnO (Upwards and Onwards), as well as other informal opportunities through Monday Drop-In group to consult with and listen to the views of our young people.

We are starting our recruitment drive for new young people and looking to expand our membership of the group with a range of different options for young people over the coming year.

Children in care and care leavers council has its own bank account

Children in care and care leavers council has its own constitution

Details:
Yes, we formally re-launched the Corporate Parenting Care Leaver Promise in November 2023. This sets out corporate parents promise to our care leavers.

Calderdale Borough Council does not have peer mentors (other care leavers)

Calderdale Borough Council does not have other mentoring schemes

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:
Subject Access Requests are made via the Council’s Information Governance Team.

A worker is available to review files with young people to provide emotional support at the time and afterwards.