Sandwell Borough Council

Care leavers receive priority for social housing

Priority is offered up to the age of: 18-25

Banding priority is: Top Band – Band 1

Additional information / how to qualify:
Young people can register at 16 for the housing register and start to build a time on this. At 18 if following work completed with their support network they have the skills and able to demonstrate they can manage they are supported to submit an application with their PA to gain and be awarded their Band 1 priority.

Care leavers get to practice independent living with taster flats

Additional information:
We have 25 training flats - care leavers can live in these for up to 12 months with support to provide them with how they are living.

We have a crash pad - we use this for sessions for independence skills.

Sandwell Borough Council will not in principle assist as a guarantor for care leavers in private rented property

Sandwell Borough Council will not in principle assist with providing a deposit for care leavers in private rented property

Care leavers are provided with a setting up allowance

Allowance amount: ££2000

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

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

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

Sandwell Borough Council will not in principle assist with support with broadband costs for care leavers

Sandwell Borough Council will not in principle assist with support with mobile phone costs for care leavers

Sandwell Borough Council will not pay towards cooking equipment for care leavers

Sandwell Borough Council offers work experience within the council for care leavers

Number of places per year: There is not a specific number, all requests are dealt with individually.

Sandwell Borough Council will pay for work/interview clothes

Sandwell Borough Council will pay towards travel to work or training

There are no ringfenced apprenticeship vacancies for care leavers at Sandwell Borough Council

Care leavers are working as apprenticeships within Sandwell Borough Council

Number per year: 3

Sandwell Borough Council will ensure each young person has ID documents when they leave care

Passport: Yes

Provisional Driving Licence: Yes

Birth Certificate: Yes

Sandwell Borough Council will not in principle assist with driving lessons

Sandwell Borough Council will not in principle assist with driving theory tests

Sandwell Borough Council will not in principle assist with driving tests

Sandwell Borough Council will not in principle assist with CBT tests

Partners local to Sandwell Borough Council offer support with free travel for care leavers

Bus: Yes

Train / Tram: Yes

Additional details:
This can be accessed through our partners for the first month of their employment/apprenticeship.

Care leavers have the opportunity to meet with their corporate parents (councillors)

We are unable to confirm whether care leavers have the opportunity for mentoring with any of the senior leadership team

Additional details:
Care leavers can be involved in the takeover days that happen at Sandwell Children’s Trust and Sandwell Council, they have opportunities to hold roles in the services to understand and get a feel of the day to day life.

Sandwell Borough Council has a children in care and care leavers council

Details of council:
Children in Care Council - 12 members age range 11-17 years old
Care Leavers Forum - 10 members age range 18-25 years old
We cannot provide contact details.

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

Sandwell Borough Council has peer mentors (other care leavers)

Sandwell Borough Council has other mentoring schemes

Details:
We work with voluntary providers to provide mentoring sessions to young people around education/training and independence. The Irise Programme provides a 12-week mentoring sessions in the community to prepare young people for independence building self-confidence. Talent match provide and match a mentor for up to 1 year to work on education/employment opportunities and support with training/qualifications to enhance a young person’s opportunities.

Young people do not have to go through the complaints dept to access their care files

Young people who access their care files do not get emotional support before, during and after disclosure

Details:
A young person can request their files direct to the leaving care service, this is managed and monitored through the complaints service. Young people are offered support via the PA to review the files at the time but at present there is no direct support offered by other services around the emotional needs following access to the files.