Central Bedfordshire

Care leavers receive priority for social housing

Priority is offered up to the age of: 25

Banding priority is: 1

Additional information / how to qualify:
Band 1 allocation is usually completed with a young person by their allocated social worker/ personal
advisor who would then also support them to complete the housing applications and register to bid
for properties etc.
Any young person could contact their allocated worker, or duty, to request support with this.

Care leavers get to practice independent living with taster flats

Central Bedfordshire will not in principle assist as a guarantor for care leavers in private rented property

Central Bedfordshire in principle will assist with providing a deposit for care leavers in private rented property

Details:
if assessed by Housing as being appropriate.

Care leavers are provided with a setting up allowance

Allowance amount: ££2000, increasing to £3000 for anyone eligible after 01.04.2023.

Central Bedfordshire in principle will assist with support to pay at least the first year TV licence for care leavers

Central Bedfordshire will not in principle assist with support to pay at least the first year home contents insurance for care leavers

Central Bedfordshire will not in principle assist with support to pay for redecoration costs of a care leavers first flat

Central Bedfordshire will not in principle assist with support with broadband costs for care leavers

Central Bedfordshire will not in principle assist with support with mobile phone costs for care leavers

Central Bedfordshire will not pay towards cooking equipment for care leavers

Central Bedfordshire offers work experience within the council for care leavers

Number of places per year: We are currently finalising arrangements for this, and will be offering work experience by end 2023- final numbers are to be determined.

Central Bedfordshire will pay for work/interview clothes

Central Bedfordshire will pay towards travel to work or training

There are no ringfenced apprenticeship vacancies for care leavers at Central Bedfordshire

There are no care leavers working as apprenticeships within Central Bedfordshire

Additional information about work and training:
We have ring fenced funds for 2x fixed term contracts (12x month) within the council
specifically for care leavers and will offer these as 12x monthly contracts enabling 2x care
experienced young people annually to apply for these posts. The first posts will be recru

Central Bedfordshire will ensure each young person has ID documents when they leave care

Passport: Yes

Provisional Driving Licence: Yes

Birth Certificate: Yes

Central Bedfordshire in principle will assist with driving lessons

Central Bedfordshire in principle will assist with driving theory tests

Central Bedfordshire in principle will assist with driving tests

Central Bedfordshire in principle will assist with CBT tests

Partners local to Central Bedfordshire 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

Central Bedfordshire has a children in care and care leavers council

Details of council:
The Children in Care Council (CiCC) is a group of children and young people who are or have been in the care of Central Bedfordshire Council. The members of the CiCC work with the Corporate Parenting Panel to improve services for Central Bedfordshire Council’s looked after children.

https://www.cbccicc.org.uk/website/children-in-care-council/the-children-in-care-council

The CiCC meet monthly and work towards a number of priorities which have been agreed between the members of the CiCC and members of Corporate Parenting Panel.

Children in care and care leavers council does not have its own bank account

Children in care and care leavers council has its own constitution

Details:
Yes we have a pledge that was created in conjunction with the members and signed off in 2021

Central Bedfordshire does not have peer mentors (other care leavers)

Central Bedfordshire 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:
We have one central point of contact for access to records- through a dedicated access to records
and FOI team. A young person could also request access to their records through their allocated
social worker/ PA or IRO who would complete the request on their behalf.
For care experienced young people who are supported by an allocated worker, the allocated worker/
IRO would offer support to the young person to review the records , answer any questions and assist
with any onward support. For young people who are no longer open to the service or care
experienced adults, signposting to support is included with information at point of disclosure.