Hillingdon has not made care experience a protected characteristic.
Care Leaver Local Offer
Hillingdon has published a Local Offer for Care Leavers in accordance with Section 2 of the Children and Social Work Act 2017
The Local Offer is available:
on the web: Yes - view Local Offer here
as a document: Download Charter for Care Leavers Download Ofsted Children's Services Inspection Download Children's Services Focused Visit Download Ofsted Children's Services Inspection
as an app: No
At Hillingdon care leavers co-produce the local offer.
Details:
Through discussions with the children in care council.
The best person to contact regarding the Local Offer is:
Name:
The care leavers have a named Social Worker or Personal Advisor to contact in the first instance. Alternatively, if they are unavailable, there is always a duty worker that would be able to be contacted. We do not have a named person to contact.
The Director responsible for Children's Services is:
Name:
Ms Julie Kelly
Email Address:
[email protected]
Council Tax
Hillingdon has not exempted care leavers from Council Tax
Housing
Care leavers do not receive priority for social housing
Care leavers do not get to practice independent living with taster flats
Hillingdon will not in principle assist as a guarantor for care leavers in private rented property
Hillingdon in principle will assist with providing a deposit for care leavers in private rented property
Details:
Depends on the outcome of an assessment of need.
Setting up a home
Care leavers are provided with a setting up allowance
Allowance amount: ££2000.50.
Hillingdon in principle will assist with support to pay at least the first year TV licence for care leavers
Hillingdon in principle will assist with support to pay at least the first year home contents insurance for care leavers
Hillingdon in principle will assist with support to pay for redecoration costs of a care leavers first flat
Hillingdon in principle will assist with support with broadband costs for care leavers
Hillingdon in principle will assist with support with mobile phone costs for care leavers
Hillingdon will pay towards cooking equipment for care leavers
Employment and Apprenticeships
Hillingdon does not offer work experience within the council for care leavers
Hillingdon will pay for work/interview clothes
Hillingdon will pay towards travel to work or training
There are no ringfenced apprenticeship vacancies for care leavers at Hillingdon
We are unable to confirm if there are care leavers working as apprenticeships within Hillingdon
Participation in Society
Hillingdon will ensure each young person has ID documents when they leave care
Passport: Yes
Provisional Driving Licence: Yes
Birth Certificate: Yes
Hillingdon in principle will assist with driving lessons
Hillingdon in principle will assist with driving theory tests
Hillingdon in principle will assist with driving tests
Hillingdon in principle will assist with CBT tests
Partners local to Hillingdon do not offer support with free travel for care leavers
Access to corporate parents
We are unable to confirm whether care leavers have the opportunity to meet with their corporate parents (councillors)
We are unable to confirm whether care leavers have the opportunity for mentoring with any of the senior leadership team
Children in care and care leavers council
We are unable to confirm whether Hillingdon has a children in care and care leavers council
Health and Wellbeing
Care leavers do not get free access to leisure facilities as part of the Local Offer
Special Occasions
Hillingdon pays towards Christmas and other religious celebrations for care leavers
Details:
Yes, they received £50 one-off for one festival.
Hillingdon pays towards birthday celebrations for care leavers
Details:
Yes, £50 for each birthday until they reach 18 and £100 on their 18th birthday.
Relationships
We are unable to confirm whether Hillingdon has peer mentors (other care leavers)
Hillingdon has other mentoring schemes
Details:
Access to the peer leadership scheme, a targeted programme - AIMS offers mentoring-based personal development programmes for adolescents aged 11-19 (up to 25 with SEND), providing support to overcome challengers to their personal, academic and social progressions.
University mentoring available from established and trained students at Brunel University.
Access to care files
We are unable to confirm whether young people have to go through the complaints dept to access their care files
We are unable to confirm whether young people who access their care files get emotional support before, during and after disclosure
Facts and Figures
Number of looked after children since 2014
| 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 334 | 342 | 308 | 291 | 326 | 338 | 338 | 408 | 351 |
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Number of care leavers by age, year ending 31st March 2021
| 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | Total | 127 | 118 | 117 | 127 | 147 | 119 | 145 | 106 | 86 | 1092 |
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Percentage of care leavers going onto NEET since 2014
| 2015 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 22% | 34% | 32% | 31% | 29% | 28% |
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Political Control
Hillingdon is a Conservative controlled council
Ofsted Ratings
Publication date: 20 November 2023
Overall effectiveness: Outstanding
Experiences and progress of children in care: Outstanding
Experiences and progress of care leavers: Good
Impact of leaders on social work practice with children and families: Outstanding
If you think this information needs updating then please get in touch