Devon County Council

Care leavers receive priority for social housing

Priority is offered up to the age of: 25

Banding priority is: Band B

Additional information / how to qualify:
Care Leavers are currently given priority banding ONLY if they are “move-on” ready, we are working to change this.

Care leavers get to practice independent living with taster flats

Additional information:
We have a small amount of taster flats available, but only in one area of our large county.

Devon County Council in principle will assist as a guarantor for care leavers in private rented property

Details:
We have a guarantor scheme.

Devon County Council in principle will assist with providing a deposit for care leavers in private rented property

Details:
We will pay start up costs for a first private tenancy – deposit and first months rent.

Care leavers are provided with a setting up allowance

Allowance amount: £2000

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

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

Devon County Council will not in principle assist with support to pay for redecoration costs of a care leavers first flat

Devon County Council in principle will assist with support with broadband costs for care leavers

Devon County Council in principle will assist with support with mobile phone costs for care leavers

Devon County Council will pay towards cooking equipment for care leavers

Devon County Council does not offer work experience within the council for care leavers

Devon County Council will pay for work/interview clothes

Devon County Council will pay towards travel to work or training

There are ringfenced apprenticeship vacancies for care leavers at Devon County Council

2 apprenticeship vacancies are ringfenced a year

Care leavers are working as apprenticeships within Devon County Council

Number per year: 2

Additional information about work and training:
We employ Education, Employment and Training Specialist PAs to support our young people with all aspects of ETE. We offer an employability programme called Step Forward.

Devon County Council will ensure each young person has ID documents when they leave care

Passport: Yes

Provisional Driving Licence: Yes

Birth Certificate: Yes

Devon County Council in principle will assist with driving lessons

Devon County Council will not in principle assist with driving theory tests

Devon County Council in principle will assist with driving tests

Devon County Council in principle will assist with CBT tests

Partners local to Devon County 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 working to mentoring achieve this within the next 6 months 27/10/2023

Devon County Council has a children in care and care leavers council

Details of council:
Stand Up Speak Up - Children In Care and Care Leavers - Children In Care and Care Leavers
https://www.standupspeakup.org.uk/

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

Devon County Council does not have peer mentors (other care leavers)

Devon County Council has other mentoring schemes

Details:
They are advertising for young people to become mentors.
https://www.youngdevon.org/becoming-a-mentor/

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:
All PAs are trained in supporting young people to access their files. Training provided by the Rees Foundation.