Hertfordshire County Council

Care leavers receive priority for social housing

Priority is offered up to the age of: 21 years but also up to 25 years if exceptional reasons and district councils are informed in advance of 21.

Banding priority is: Band B

Additional information / how to qualify:
LCPA supports move on plans using the pathway plan and joint housing protocol.

Care leavers get to practice independent living with taster flats

Additional information:
There is the option of some 12-week practice flats in Hertfordshire 3 months prior to 18 for those CLA showing ability to live independently. They complete several independent living skills modules which evidences to district council’s readiness for social housing and they are then allowed to bid for their own properties.

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

Details:
Considered on a case by case basis

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

Details:
It is within our financial policy to provide private rent deposit for care leavers that need to access this, this is permitted for one private tenancy.

Care leavers are provided with a setting up allowance

Allowance amount: ££2138.50

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

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

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

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

Hertfordshire County Council will not in principle assist with support with mobile phone costs for care leavers

Hertfordshire County Council will pay towards cooking equipment for care leavers

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

Hertfordshire County Council will pay for work/interview clothes

Hertfordshire County Council will pay towards travel to work or training

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

We are unable to confirm how many are ringfenced a year

Care leavers are working as apprenticeships within Hertfordshire County Council

Number per year: 2 last year with a plan to increase this during 2023/2024.

Additional information about work and training:
Several strategies set up to support care leavers in to EET opportunities, work with Services for Young People, alignment with John Lewis and Project Positive.

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

Passport: Yes

Provisional Driving Licence: Yes

Birth Certificate: Yes

Hertfordshire County Council in principle will assist with driving lessons

Hertfordshire County Council in principle will assist with driving theory tests

Hertfordshire County Council in principle will assist with driving tests

Hertfordshire County Council in principle will assist with CBT tests

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

Additional details:
Historically this has been offered, current Service Manager is mentoring a Care Leaver at University and previous lead member
mentored a care leaver

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

Details of council:
We have 26 members across with service experience.
18 under 18
8 over 18 (Care leaver)

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

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

Hertfordshire County Council has other mentoring schemes

Details:
We have Ohana champions for our care leaver parents and will be launching a practical partners volunteer scheme for care leavers this year.

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:
Emotional support offered via leaving care personal advisers and REES foundation support offered if required. We also have a set of workers trained in
therapeutic life story work.