Milton Keynes Council has made care experience a protected characteristic.
Care Leaver Local Offer
Milton Keynes Council 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 Local Offer Download Ofsted Children's Services Inspection Download Children's Services Monitoring Visit
as an app: No
At Milton Keynes Council care leavers co-produce the local offer.
Details:
Consultation with care leavers group.
The best person to contact regarding the Local Offer is:
Name:
Katie Connolly
Email Address:
[email protected]
Telephone:
01908 253434
The Director responsible for Children's Services is:
Name:
Mr Mac Heath
Email Address:
[email protected]
Council Tax
Milton Keynes Council has exempted care leavers from Council Tax
Council tax is exempted up to the age of: 25
Milton Keynes Council includes care leavers from other areas in their council tax exemption policy
To apply care leavers need to:
Personal Advisor completes an exemption form on their behalf.
Housing
Care leavers receive priority for social housing
Priority is offered up to the age of: 25
Banding priority is: Highest band
Additional information / how to qualify:
Being a care leaver, personal advisor’s support with application for housing.
Care leavers do not get to practice independent living with taster flats
Milton Keynes Council will not in principle assist as a guarantor for care leavers in private rented property
Milton Keynes Council in principle will assist with providing a deposit for care leavers in private rented property
Setting up a home
Care leavers are provided with a setting up allowance
Allowance amount: £3549
Milton Keynes Council in principle will assist with support to pay at least the first year TV licence for care leavers
Milton Keynes Council in principle will assist with support to pay at least the first year home contents insurance for care leavers
Milton Keynes Council in principle will assist with support to pay for redecoration costs of a care leavers first flat
Milton Keynes Council will not in principle assist with support with broadband costs for care leavers
Milton Keynes Council in principle will assist with support with mobile phone costs for care leavers
Milton Keynes Council will pay towards cooking equipment for care leavers
Employment and Apprenticeships
Milton Keynes Council does not offer work experience within the council for care leavers
Milton Keynes Council will pay for work/interview clothes
Milton Keynes Council will pay towards travel to work or training
There are ringfenced apprenticeship vacancies for care leavers at Milton Keynes Council
2 apprenticeship vacancies are ringfenced a year
Care leavers are working as apprenticeships within Milton Keynes Council
Number per year: 2
Additional information about work and training:
We pay travel until they are able fund themselves when working.
Training considered on case-by-case basis.
Participation in Society
Milton Keynes Council will ensure each young person has ID documents when they leave care
Passport: Yes
Provisional Driving Licence: Yes
Birth Certificate: Yes
Milton Keynes Council in principle will assist with driving lessons
Milton Keynes Council in principle will assist with driving theory tests
Milton Keynes Council in principle will assist with driving tests
Milton Keynes Council in principle will assist with CBT tests
Partners local to Milton Keynes Council 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
Additional details:
Care leavers can contact Richard Lee to get this arranged.
[email protected]
Children in care and care leavers council
Milton Keynes Council has a children in care and care leavers council
Details of council:
8-10 YP
Ages 11-24 Years
[email protected]
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
Details:
There’s is a terms of reference for the group.
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: 25
They cannot take a friend for free
Details to apply:
Gym and Leisure is on a case by case basis
Name Sam Johnson
Email [email protected]
Phone 07557169123
Special Occasions
Milton Keynes Council pays towards Christmas and other religious celebrations for care leavers
Details:
£50 per year up to 21.
Milton Keynes Council pays towards birthday celebrations for care leavers
Details:
£100 for 18 years
£50 for 19 & 20
£100 for 21 Years.
Relationships
Milton Keynes Council does not have peer mentors (other care leavers)
Milton Keynes Council has other mentoring schemes
Details:
Grand mentors
In house mentoring scheme
Access to care files
Young people 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:
Workers provide support before during and after.
Facts and Figures
Number of looked after children since 2014
| 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 339 | 345 | 396 | 394 | 382 | 403 | 395 | 361 | 354 |
|---|
Number of care leavers by age, year ending 31st March 2021
| 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | Total | 48 | 34 | 63 | 66 | 61 | 67 | 49 | 52 | 38 | 478 |
|---|
Percentage of care leavers going onto NEET since 2014
| 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 27% | n/a | 42% | 44% | 51% | 50% | 46% |
|---|
Political Control
Milton Keynes Council is a Labour controlled council
Ofsted Ratings
Publication date: 17 December 2021
Overall effectiveness: Requires Improvement
Experiences and progress of children in care: N/A
Experiences and progress of care leavers: Requires Improvement
Impact of leaders on social work practice with children and families: Requires Improvement
If you think this information needs updating then please get in touch