Kirklees

Kirklees has made care experience a protected characteristic.

Care Leaver Local Offer

Kirklees has published a Local Offer for Care Leavers in accordance with Section 2 of the Children and Social Work Act 2017

At Kirklees care leavers co-produce the local offer.

Details:
Our care leavers had input into the offer via consultation with The “Care Leavers Forum”.

The best person to contact regarding the Local Offer is:

Name:
01484 221000 then ask for Care leavers service or call direct number to Care leavers service business support and duty, then access managers if needed on : 01484 225511.

Email Address:
[email protected]

The Director responsible for Children's Services is:

Name:
Tom Brailsford

Email Address:
[email protected]

Council Tax

Kirklees has exempted care leavers from Council Tax

Council tax is exempted up to the age of: 25

Kirklees does not include care leavers from other areas in their council tax exemption policy

To apply care leavers need to:
If not currently in receipt please contact the care leavers service.

Housing

Care leavers receive priority for social housing

Priority is offered up to the age of: Up to 25 for their first own tenancy

Banding priority is: A

Additional information / how to qualify:
Our care leavers qualify for the banding in respect of their first home i.e. move to independence. Further offers linked with their Leaving care status are dependent on assessment of need and situation.

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

Kirklees will not in principle assist as a guarantor for care leavers in private rented property

Kirklees in principle will assist with providing a deposit for care leavers in private rented property

Details:
According to assessed need.

Setting up a home

Care leavers are provided with a setting up allowance

Allowance amount: ££3000 Currently

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

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

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

Kirklees in principle will assist with support with broadband costs for care leavers

Kirklees in principle will assist with support with mobile phone costs for care leavers

Kirklees will pay towards cooking equipment for care leavers

Employment and Apprenticeships

Kirklees offers work experience within the council for care leavers

We are unable to confirm how many places per year

Kirklees will pay for work/interview clothes

Kirklees will pay towards travel to work or training

There are no ringfenced apprenticeship vacancies for care leavers at Kirklees

Care leavers are working as apprenticeships within Kirklees

We are unable to confirm the number per year

Participation in Society

Kirklees will ensure each young person has ID documents when they leave care

Passport: Yes

Provisional Driving Licence: Yes

Birth Certificate: Yes

Kirklees in principle will assist with driving lessons

Kirklees in principle will assist with driving theory tests

Kirklees in principle will assist with driving tests

Kirklees in principle will assist with CBT tests

Partners local to Kirklees do not offer support with free travel for care leavers

Access to corporate parents

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

Children in care and care leavers council

Kirklees has a children in care and care leavers council

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

Health and Wellbeing

Care leavers get free access to leisure facilities as part of the Local Offer

Free gym membership: Yes

Free swimming: Yes

Free classes: Yes

Free leisure up to the age of: 21

They cannot take a friend for free

Details to apply:
Via their personal advisor

Special Occasions

Kirklees pays towards Christmas and other religious celebrations for care leavers

Details:
There is also a once a year celebration payment for Christmas or an alternative celebration event.

Kirklees pays towards birthday celebrations for care leavers

Details:
Currently we offer £150 for an 18th birthday. Then £25 for 19th and 20th birthdays and £50 for 21st
.
All of the above however has been reviewed in the recent review of the “financial support offer” -publication due shortly.

Relationships

Kirklees does not have peer mentors (other care leavers)

Kirklees has other mentoring schemes

Details:
We have a mentoring offer for apprentices within Kirklees.

Access to care files

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:
This support offer comes from the leaving care service and is usually provided by a young persons own PA, who is usually the best person to offer this support, given their relationship.

Facts and Figures

Number of looked after children since 2015

202120222023
661604592

Percentage of care leavers (aged 19 to 21) going onto NEET

2026
TBC

Political Control

Kirklees is controlled by a coalition

Ofsted Ratings

Publication date: 19 July 2024

Overall effectiveness: Good

Experiences and progress of children in care: Good

Experiences and progress of care leavers: Requires Improvement

Impact of leaders on social work practice with children and families: Good

Last updated on: 13 January 2026