Cambridgeshire County Council has made care experience a protected characteristic.
Care Leaver Local Offer
Cambridgeshire County 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 Cambridgeshire Care Leavers Promises Download Ofsted Focused Visit 14/04/2021
as an app: No
At Cambridgeshire County Council care leavers co-produce the local offer.
Details:
Contribution from Children in Care Council and Voice (Care Leavers Council) with support from the Participation Service. In addition, in-service consultation with groups and learning from complaints and compliments has led to enhancements to the offer.
The best person to contact regarding the Local Offer is:
Name:
Leaving Care Duty Inbox
Email Address:
[email protected]
Telephone:
01480 379493
The Director responsible for Children's Services is:
Name:
Martin Purbrick
Email Address:
[email protected]
Council Tax
Cambridgeshire County Council has exempted care leavers from Council Tax
Council tax is exempted up to the age of: 25
Cambridgeshire County Council does not include care leavers from other areas in their council tax exemption policy
To apply care leavers need to:
Aged 18-21, any eligible deductions applied, bill is processed by the Leaving Care Service
Aged 21-25, any eligible deductions applied, bill is process by the Leaving Care Service in accessing local grant funding
Housing
Care leavers receive priority for social housing
Priority is offered up to the age of: 21
Banding priority is: Band A
Additional information / how to qualify:
Set out within the Joint Housing Protocol for Care Leavers (last updated November 2023)
Care leavers do not get to practice independent living with taster flats
Cambridgeshire County Council will not in principle assist as a guarantor for care leavers in private rented property
Cambridgeshire County Council in principle will assist with providing a deposit for care leavers in private rented property
Details:
Aligned with the Leaving Care Financial Guide ensuring social housing is appropriately excluded, the accommodation is deemed suitable and within LHA rates to prevent setting up for financial failure.
Setting up a home
Care leavers are provided with a setting up allowance
Allowance amount: ££3400 (including additional aspects below)
Cambridgeshire County Council in principle will assist with support to pay at least the first year TV licence for care leavers
Cambridgeshire County Council in principle will assist with support to pay at least the first year home contents insurance for care leavers
Cambridgeshire County Council in principle will assist with support to pay for redecoration costs of a care leavers first flat
Cambridgeshire County Council in principle will assist with support with broadband costs for care leavers
Cambridgeshire County Council in principle will assist with support with mobile phone costs for care leavers
Cambridgeshire County Council will pay towards cooking equipment for care leavers
Employment and Apprenticeships
Cambridgeshire County Council does not offer work experience within the council for care leavers
Cambridgeshire County Council will pay for work/interview clothes
Cambridgeshire County Council will pay towards travel to work or training
There are no ringfenced apprenticeship vacancies for care leavers at Cambridgeshire County Council
There are no care leavers working as apprenticeships within Cambridgeshire County Council
Additional information about work and training:
Following the Protected Characteristics motion the authority have a strategic group focusing on workforce, opportunities, work experience and ring fenced opportunities including apprenticeships and paid roles.
Participation in Society
Cambridgeshire County Council will ensure each young person has ID documents when they leave care
Passport: Yes
Provisional Driving Licence: Yes
Birth Certificate: Yes
Cambridgeshire County Council in principle will assist with driving lessons
Cambridgeshire County Council in principle will assist with driving theory tests
Cambridgeshire County Council in principle will assist with driving tests
Cambridgeshire County Council in principle will assist with CBT tests
Partners local to Cambridgeshire County 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:
The Local Authority does however have a Mentoring Programme currently partnering 25 relationships (as of April 2024)
Children in care and care leavers council
Cambridgeshire County Council has a children in care and care leavers council
Children in care and care leavers council does not have its own bank account
Children in care and care leavers council does not have its own constitution
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: Yes
Free leisure up to the age of: 21
They cannot take a friend for free
Details to apply:
We will help pay for you to go to the gym. If you don’t have a nearby council gym, we will assist with membership up to the same value. If you live in Huntingdon, One Leisure offer discounted membership to care leavers. Your personal adviser can help you apply and we will pay the difference. Visit One Leisure Concessionary Scheme for more information.
This offer is currently available for our Care Leavers up to the age of 21.
Special Occasions
Cambridgeshire County Council pays towards Christmas and other religious celebrations for care leavers
Details:
For young people aged 16 and 17 living in semi-independent accommodation the value is £273 for festival (aligned to foster allowances) to ensure young people are not disadvantaged as a result of where they reside.
Former Relevant:
For young people aged 18 to 21yrs- £50 festival
For young people still open to service aged 21-25yrs- £10 festival
Cambridgeshire County Council pays towards birthday celebrations for care leavers
Details:
For young people aged 16 and 17 living in semi-independent accommodation the value is £273 for birthday (aligned to foster allowances) to ensure young people are not disadvantaged as a result of where they reside.
Former Relevant:
For young people aged 18 and 21yrs- £100 birthday
For young people aged 19 and 20yrs- £50 birthday
For young people still open to service aged 21-25yrs- £25 birthday
Relationships
Cambridgeshire County Council does not have peer mentors (other care leavers)
Cambridgeshire County Council has other mentoring schemes
Details:
Goal 17 Business Mentoring Scheme- year 2
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:
These discussions will happen with their Personal Adviser
Facts and Figures
Number of looked after children since 2014
| 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 535 | 607 | 686 | 700 | 773 | 717 | 640 | 597 | 646 |
|---|
Number of care leavers by age, year ending 31st March 2021
| 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | Total | 135 | 140 | 118 | 132 | 122 | 103 | 84 | 91 | 77 | 1002 |
|---|
Percentage of care leavers going onto NEET since 2014
| 2015 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 51% | 42% | 34% | 37% | 37% | 45% |
|---|
Political Control
Cambridgeshire County Council is controlled by a LD+LAB+IND coalition
Ofsted Ratings
Publication date: 18 February 2019
Overall effectiveness: Requires Improvement
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: Good
If you think this information needs updating then please get in touch