Durham County Council

Care leavers receive priority for social housing

Priority is offered up to the age of: 25

Banding priority is: Band 2

Additional information / how to qualify:
Work with YPA and the YPA sends a letter confirming they are a care leaver, we also have a CLASP (Care leavers accommodation support protocol) which we follow to help with the planning of this

Care leavers do not get to practice independent living with taster flats

Durham County Council will not in principle assist as a guarantor for care leavers in private rented property

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

Details:
Our local housing department offer a housing options tool kit to care leavers and they can get access to a paper bond.

Care leavers are provided with a setting up allowance

We are unable to confirm the allowance amount

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

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

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

Durham County Council will not in principle assist with support with broadband costs for care leavers

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

Durham County Council will pay towards cooking equipment for care leavers

Durham County Council offers work experience within the council for care leavers

Number of places per year: 30

Durham County Council will pay for work/interview clothes

Durham County Council will pay towards travel to work or training

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

10% of DCC apprenticeship vacancies apprenticeship vacancies are ringfenced a year

Care leavers are working as apprenticeships within Durham County Council

Number per year: 6

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

Passport: Yes

Provisional Driving Licence: Yes

Birth Certificate: Yes

Durham County Council in principle will assist with driving lessons

Durham County Council in principle will assist with driving theory tests

Durham County Council in principle will assist with driving tests

Durham County Council in principle will assist with CBT tests

Partners local to Durham 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

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

Details of council:
This is independent and ran by investing in children we also have a participation group within the service and link with national leaving care

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

Children in care and care leavers council does not have its own constitution

Durham County Council has peer mentors (other care leavers)

Durham County Council has other mentoring schemes

Details:
We have undertaken peer mentoring training for 7 mentors and matched 2. This scheme need to be progressed further.

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 a full circle therapeutic service who offer support to care leavers if they wish to work with them.