Darlington Borough Council

Care leavers receive priority for social housing

Priority is offered up to the age of: 25

Banding priority is: Band 1

Additional information / how to qualify:
Supporting letter from their PA.

Care leavers get to practice independent living with taster flats

Additional information:
We have 7 taster flats in Darlington, young people in foster care and residential care are offered a 6 week taste in a flat, the take up is high for this and thy have a tight support plan in place for this period. With support from foster carer, PA and social worker.

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

Darlington Borough Council will not in principle assist with providing a deposit for care leavers in private rented property

Care leavers are provided with a setting up allowance

Allowance amount: ££3000

Darlington Borough Council will not in principle assist with support to pay at least the first year TV licence for care leavers

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

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

Darlington Borough Council will not in principle assist with support with broadband costs for care leavers

Darlington Borough Council in principle will assist with support with mobile phone costs for care leavers

Darlington Borough Council will not pay towards cooking equipment for care leavers

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

Number of places per year: We currently have one care experience apprenticeship, but offer care experienced young people work experience in all areas of Darlington Borough Council.

Darlington Borough Council will pay for work/interview clothes

Darlington Borough Council will pay towards travel to work or training

There are ringfenced apprenticeship vacancies for care leavers at Darlington Borough Council

We are unable to confirm how many are ringfenced a year

Care leavers are working as apprenticeships within Darlington Borough Council

Number per year: 1

Additional information about work and training:

Neet reduction group held on a monthly basis
Joint protocol with DWP
Links with local businesses
Strong links with training providers.
Care leaver convenant.

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

Passport: Yes

Provisional Driving Licence: Yes

Birth Certificate: Yes

Darlington Borough Council in principle will assist with driving lessons

Darlington Borough Council in principle will assist with driving theory tests

Darlington Borough Council in principle will assist with driving tests

Darlington Borough Council in principle will assist with CBT tests

Partners local to Darlington 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 have the opportunity for mentoring with any of the senior leadership team

Additional details:
We participate in the the ‘takeover challenge’

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

Details of council:

We have a primary age group, secondary school age group and a leaving care forum.
Run by the participation team.

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

Children in care and care leavers council has its own constitution

Details:
We have a promise tree, co produced with care experienced younge people.

Darlington Borough Council has peer mentors (other care leavers)

Darlington Borough Council does not have other mentoring schemes

Details:
We are currently redeveloping this at the moment in Darlington. We do have a group of older care experienced peer mentors however.

Young people 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:
PA is notified when files are ready and they support the young person to read.