Norfolk County Council

Care leavers receive priority for social housing

Priority is offered up to the age of: this is not consistent between all 7 LHAs in Norfolk

We are unable to confirm the banding priority

Additional information / how to qualify:
We work with 7 separate housing authorities just in our county – all offer some level of priority banding but it is not currently consistent across the county

Care leavers get to practice independent living with taster flats

Additional information:
We currently rent properties from a local Housing Association for young people who need some time to practice independent living

Norfolk County Council in principle will assist as a guarantor for care leavers in private rented property

Details:
We offer to be a guarantor for those who can demonstrate the accommodation is affordable. The guarantee amounts are limited

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

Details:
Norfolk offers deposit and first month rent to young people accessing private rented accommodation (where required)

If they are in Higher Education, we will pay the entire rent in advance and deposit (RADS)

Care leavers are provided with a setting up allowance

Allowance amount: £This is agreed on a case by case basis as part of pathway planning

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

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

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

Norfolk County Council in principle will assist with support with broadband costs for care leavers

Norfolk County Council in principle will assist with support with mobile phone costs for care leavers

Norfolk County Council will pay towards cooking equipment for care leavers

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

Norfolk County Council will pay for work/interview clothes

Norfolk County Council will pay towards travel to work or training

There are no ringfenced apprenticeship vacancies for care leavers at Norfolk County Council

Care leavers are working as apprenticeships within Norfolk County Council

Number per year: There are not allocated numbers, we open up all internal apprenticeships to care leavers utilising the guaranteed interview scheme

Additional information about work and training:
We have a dedicated service called Support for Success who will work with young people with emotional wellbeing difficulties which further helps to support them into EET, we have also trained our Personal Advisors in Coaching for EET to enable them to effectively support young people in aspirational conversations when pathway planning

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

Passport: Yes

Provisional Driving Licence: Yes

Birth Certificate: Yes

Norfolk County Council in principle will assist with driving lessons

Norfolk County Council in principle will assist with driving theory tests

Norfolk County Council in principle will assist with driving tests

Norfolk County Council in principle will assist with CBT tests

Partners local to Norfolk 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 do not have the opportunity for mentoring with any of the senior leadership team

Additional details:
Our Norfolk In Care Council (NiCC) have the opportunity to meet with Members through Corporate Parenting Board and we have other plans in the pipeline for 6 monthly workshops for young people and Members to share their views

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

Details of council:
We have an extensive range of in care council groups including Change Makers, Young Adults Forum, UASC Forum to name some. We have a Participation Service – the manager is Jo Todd – [email protected] who can provide details of all activities.

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:
All children and young people are encouraged to open a bank account however this is not yet consistent for all in the cohort
I believe the NiCC has their own terms of reference

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

Norfolk County Council does not have other mentoring schemes

Details:
We are currently working on a Member mentoring scheme – it is not yet up and running but should be in the next 3 months

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:
If we receive a request from a care leaver aged up to 25 to see their file, their current personal advisor (or they are reopened if over 21 and closed) will provide lifestory work initially to ensure that care leavers understand their journey through social care. This is a therapeutic process and supported by our clinical team Support for Success. If the care leaver still chooses to see their file after this work is completed (as many want to understand what happened, which records rarely help with), they will receive ongoing support from their PA throughout their time going through their records