North Somerset has made care experience a protected characteristic.
Care Leaver Local Offer
North Somerset 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 Focused Visit Download Children's Services Focused Visit Download Ofsted Children's Services Inspection
as an app: No
At North Somerset care leavers co-produce the local offer.
Details:
Helped Contribute to what it covers and the design.
The best person to contact regarding the Local Offer is:
Name:
Liza Zakheim
Email Address:
[email protected]
Telephone:
01934 421900
The Director responsible for Children's Services is:
Name:
Ms Sheila Smith
Email Address:
[email protected]
Council Tax
North Somerset has exempted care leavers from Council Tax
Council tax is exempted up to the age of: 25
North Somerset does not include care leavers from other areas in their council tax exemption policy
To apply care leavers need to:
Ask their LCPA or speak with our Housing Advice Worker for Care Leavers
Housing
Care leavers receive priority for social housing
Priority is offered up to the age of: 25
Banding priority is: Band A
Additional information / how to qualify:
Contact their LCPA or Housing Advice Worker for Care Leavers.
Care leavers do not get to practice independent living with taster flats
North Somerset will not in principle assist as a guarantor for care leavers in private rented property
North Somerset in principle will assist with providing a deposit for care leavers in private rented property
Details:
Through our Housing Team.
Setting up a home
Care leavers are provided with a setting up allowance
Allowance amount: ££2000
North Somerset in principle will assist with support to pay at least the first year TV licence for care leavers
North Somerset will not in principle assist with support to pay at least the first year home contents insurance for care leavers
North Somerset will not in principle assist with support to pay for redecoration costs of a care leavers first flat
North Somerset in principle will assist with support with broadband costs for care leavers
North Somerset will not in principle assist with support with mobile phone costs for care leavers
North Somerset will not pay towards cooking equipment for care leavers
Employment and Apprenticeships
North Somerset does not offer work experience within the council for care leavers
North Somerset will pay for work/interview clothes
North Somerset will pay towards travel to work or training
There are no ringfenced apprenticeship vacancies for care leavers at North Somerset
We are unable to confirm if there are care leavers working as apprenticeships within North Somerset
Participation in Society
North Somerset will ensure each young person has ID documents when they leave care
Passport: Yes
Provisional Driving Licence: Unknown
Birth Certificate: Yes
North Somerset in principle will assist with driving lessons
We are unable to confirm whether North Somerset in principle will assist with driving theory tests
North Somerset will not in principle assist with driving tests
North Somerset in principle will assist with CBT tests
Partners local to North Somerset 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 do not have the opportunity for mentoring with any of the senior leadership team
Children in care and care leavers council
North Somerset has a children in care and care leavers council
Details of council:
Not Known, but about 6 Care Leavers attend the Care Leavers Forum.
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: 25
They cannot take a friend for free
Details to apply:
Through their LCPA or Duty Worker on 01934 421900
Special Occasions
North Somerset pays towards Christmas and other religious celebrations for care leavers
Details:
£30 at a Festival of the Care Leavers Choosing.
North Somerset pays towards birthday celebrations for care leavers
Details:
Age 19 £30
Age 20 £25
Age 21 £20
Ages 22-25 £10
Relationships
North Somerset does not have peer mentors (other care leavers)
We are unable to confirm whether North Somerset has other mentoring schemes
Details:
May have a Mentor Prior to Leaving Care but not after.
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:
There LCPA does preparation work about reading their files.
Facts and Figures
Number of looked after children since 2015
| 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 232 | 222 | 225 | 236 | 242 | 231 | 213 | 199 | 223 |
|---|
Number of care leavers by age, year ending 31st March 2021
| 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | Total | 37 | 32 | 32 | 30 | 30 | 28 | 40 | 46 | 39 | 314 |
|---|
Percentage of care leavers going onto NEET since 2015
| 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 45% | n/a | 54% | 51% | 46% | 44% | 53% |
|---|
Political Control
North Somerset is controlled by a coalition
Ofsted Ratings
Publication date: 11 May 2023
Overall effectiveness: Requires Improvement
Experiences and progress of children in care: Requires Improvement
Experiences and progress of care leavers: Good
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