East Sussex County Council

Care leavers receive priority for social housing

Priority is offered up to the age of: 21

We are unable to confirm the banding priority

Additional information / how to qualify:
This is a County Council and does not have a housing function. There are various housing policies across the county from the various district councils.
Giving you high priority access to social housing in accordance with our housing allocation policy.

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

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

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

Care leavers are provided with a setting up allowance

Allowance amount: £3000

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

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

East Sussex County Council in principle will assist with support to pay for redecoration costs of a care leavers first flat

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

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

East Sussex County Council will pay towards cooking equipment for care leavers

East Sussex County Council offers work experience within the council for care leavers

Number of places per year: This is unlimited depending on individual requirements.

East Sussex County Council will pay for work/interview clothes

East Sussex County Council will pay towards travel to work or training

There are no ringfenced apprenticeship vacancies for care leavers at East Sussex County Council

Care leavers are working as apprenticeships within East Sussex County Council

Number per year: Not sure how many

Additional information about work and training:
We ensure young people are not financially disadvantaged as a result of working, individual support depending on a young person’s circumstances.
We are currently working with Adults Services to develop a pathway.
We have recently reformed Care 2 Work to look at a number of initiatives including shadowing, traineeships, mentoring and Supporting care Leavers to be work ready.
We have included Care Leavers in our commissioning processes particularly in the field for social value.

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

Passport: Yes

Provisional Driving Licence: Yes

Birth Certificate: Yes

East Sussex County Council will not in principle assist with driving lessons

East Sussex County Council will not in principle assist with driving theory tests

East Sussex County Council will not in principle assist with driving tests

East Sussex County Council will not in principle assist with CBT tests

Partners local to East Sussex 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

East Sussex County Council has a children in care and care leavers council

Details of council:
We have a well established Children in Care Council that have a national profile.
CICC – 16 YP between 12 – 17, there is also a longer list of YP for focus groups and recruitment. Attend monthly meetings
CICC ambassadors – 4 YP aged between 17 – 19 these are YP who have left CICC but are still participating in higher level CICC consultation and events. They do not attend monthly meetings

Care Leavers Council - 6 aged between 16 -25, there is also a longer list of young people who join focus groups.

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

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

East Sussex County Council 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:
Social Workers and PA’s support young people to access their records using specially prepared chronologies which are young person friendly.

This work is undertaken as direct Life Story work specific to the needs and requirements of the young person.

The young people can have access to the Subject Access Request process if they choose to but where possible we would encourage care leavers to take the above support that is available.