Portsmouth City Council

Care leavers do not receive priority for social housing

Care leavers get to practice independent living with taster flats

Additional information:
The Local Authority have a programme in conjunction with external partners and housing which allows for young people who need this experience to practice independent living.

Portsmouth City Council will not in principle assist as a guarantor for care leavers in private rented property

Portsmouth City Council in principle will assist with providing a deposit for care leavers in private rented property

Details:
Rent deposits for accommodation are considered on the basis of evidenced need, and alongside affordability criteria, taking into account the rent of the property in question and the care leaver's likely ability to sustain this accommodation and not get into arrears.

Rent deposits on properties outside the local authority area may be considered on a case by case basis.

For care leavers in receipt of housing benefit there is also the option of applying for help to pay a rent deposit/rent in advance from the Housing Benefit Discretionary Housing Payments (DHP) fund.

Care leavers are provided with a setting up allowance

Allowance amount: £2000

Portsmouth City Council will not in principle assist with support to pay at least the first year TV licence for care leavers

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

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

Portsmouth City Council will not in principle assist with support with broadband costs for care leavers

Portsmouth City Council will not in principle assist with support with mobile phone costs for care leavers

Portsmouth City Council will not pay towards cooking equipment for care leavers

Portsmouth City Council offers work experience within the council for care leavers

Number of places per year: 12

Portsmouth City Council will pay for work/interview clothes

Portsmouth City Council will pay towards travel to work or training

There are ringfenced apprenticeship vacancies for care leavers at Portsmouth City Council

1 apprenticeship vacancy is ringfenced a year

Care leavers are working as apprenticeships within Portsmouth City Council

Number per year: 1

Portsmouth City Council will ensure each young person has ID documents when they leave care

Passport: Yes

Provisional Driving Licence: Yes

Birth Certificate: Yes

Portsmouth City Council will not in principle assist with driving lessons

Portsmouth City Council in principle will assist with driving theory tests

Portsmouth City Council will not in principle assist with driving tests

Portsmouth City Council will not in principle assist with CBT tests

Partners local to Portsmouth City 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 have the opportunity for mentoring with any of the senior leadership team

Portsmouth City Council has a children in care and care leavers council

Details of council:
Portsmouth city council has a Children in Care Council that takes part in a large number of different activities ranging from group discussion, attending boards, running training, interviewing staff, sitting on working groups as experts by experience and so on. The age range of the young people that take part in CiCC related activities is 8 - 25

Contact: [email protected] Participation Officer

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

Portsmouth City Council has peer mentors (other care leavers)

Portsmouth City Council has other mentoring schemes

Details:
Care leaver offer is clear in this:
If you feel you would benefit from a mentor, we will try to provide one for you. We have a number of people in the council who are keen to support you, particularly around work-related issues.
FLYING SOLO Flying Solo is a charity set up to raise money to help care leavers build networks and help each other through the difficulties and challenges they might face.

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:
Emotional support is offered.