Kent County Council

Care leavers do not receive priority for social housing

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

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

Details:
https://kentcarestown.lea.kent.sch.uk/moving-on/housing/ongoing-housing-support/

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

Details:
We can provide both rent in advance as well as Deposits to help secure private rented accommodation

Care leavers are provided with a setting up allowance

Allowance amount: £Up to £2000 (From 1st April 2023, up to £3000 as per the DfE announcement in the uplift of care leavers allowance)

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

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

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

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

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

Kent County Council will pay towards cooking equipment for care leavers

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

Number of places per year: The number various depending on the number of people requesting experience from KCC and which department we can offer this.

Kent County Council will pay for work/interview clothes

Kent County Council will pay towards travel to work or training

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

2 x Care Leavers within the 18 + Care Leavers Service 4 x Currently in Apprenticeship Posts within the Participation Team 3 x Offer of Apprenticeship awaiting start dates within the participation team. apprenticeship vacancies are ringfenced a year

Care leavers are working as apprenticeships within Kent County Council

Number per year: 6

Additional information about work and training:
We currently have 3 care leavers working full time in KCC.

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

Passport: Yes

Provisional Driving Licence: Yes

Birth Certificate: Yes

Kent County Council in principle will assist with driving lessons

Kent County Council in principle will assist with driving theory tests

Kent County Council in principle will assist with driving tests

Kent County Council will not in principle assist with CBT tests

Partners local to Kent County Council offer support with free travel for care leavers

Bus: Unknown

Train / Tram: Unknown

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:
Children and young people get the opportunity to have mentoring opportunities from members of the corporate parenting panels which includes elected members and senior leaders.

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

Details of council:
Super Council aged 7 to 11. There are 22 members.
Children & Young People’s Council aged 11 to 16. There are 31 members.
Young Adult Council aged 16+. There are 21 members.

Children in care and care leavers council does not have its own bank account

Children in care and care leavers council has its own constitution

Kent County Council has peer mentors (other care leavers)

Kent County Council has other mentoring schemes

Details:
Mentoring services are also available through KCC commissioned external provider called “The Young Lives Foundation”. Mentoring for Care Leavers - The Young Lives Foundation (ylf.org.uk)

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:
Support is available through their current or previous allocated Social Worker / Personal Advisor, if it is requested by the care leaver.