Southampton City Council has made care experience a protected characteristic.
Care Leaver Local Offer
Southampton City 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 Focused Visit Download Children's Services Focused Visit Download Ofsted Children's Services Inspection
as an app: No
At Southampton City Council care leavers co-produce the local offer.
Details:
This was undertaken in 2023 with the previous Head of Service and was developed alongside our CIC Council (SVU) and the care Leavers forum.
The best person to contact regarding the Local Offer is:
Name:
Pathways Through Care Duty
Email Address:
[email protected]
Telephone:
023 8254 545
The Director responsible for Children's Services is:
Name:
Mr Robert Henderson
Email Address:
[email protected]
Council Tax
Southampton City Council has exempted care leavers from Council Tax
Council tax is exempted up to the age of: 21
Southampton City Council does not include care leavers from other areas in their council tax exemption policy
To apply care leavers need to:
All Care Leavers moving into their own accommodation will be supported by their PA to complete the paperwork for exemption of Council Tax, currently this only applies to young people who live in the Southampton area
Housing
Care leavers receive priority for social housing
Priority is offered up to the age of: 18-21
Banding priority is: Points system in place
Care leavers get to practice independent living with taster flats
Additional information:
PA will support referral to access to records team
Southampton City Council in principle will assist as a guarantor for care leavers in private rented property
Southampton City Council in principle will assist with providing a deposit for care leavers in private rented property
Details:
Accessed through Homeless Services.
Setting up a home
Care leavers are provided with a setting up allowance
Allowance amount: £Up to £3000
Southampton City Council in principle will assist with support to pay at least the first year TV licence for care leavers
Southampton City Council in principle will assist with support to pay at least the first year home contents insurance for care leavers
Southampton City Council in principle will assist with support to pay for redecoration costs of a care leavers first flat
Southampton City Council in principle will assist with support with broadband costs for care leavers
Southampton City Council will not in principle assist with support with mobile phone costs for care leavers
Southampton City Council will pay towards cooking equipment for care leavers
Employment and Apprenticeships
Southampton City Council offers work experience within the council for care leavers
Number of places per year: 24
Southampton City Council will pay for work/interview clothes
Southampton City Council will pay towards travel to work or training
There are ringfenced apprenticeship vacancies for care leavers at Southampton City Council
2 apprenticeship vacancies are ringfenced a year
Care leavers are working as apprenticeships within Southampton City Council
Number per year: 6-8
Additional information about work and training:
Support is tailored to the needs of the young person.
Participation in Society
Southampton City Council will ensure each young person has ID documents when they leave care
Passport: Yes
Provisional Driving Licence: Yes
Birth Certificate: Yes
Southampton City Council in principle will assist with driving lessons
Southampton City Council in principle will assist with driving theory tests
Southampton City Council in principle will assist with driving tests
Southampton City Council in principle will assist with CBT tests
Partners local to Southampton City 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:
Mentoring has been offered by senior leadership team.
Children in care and care leavers council
Southampton City Council has a children in care and care leavers council
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:
Currently the groups are joined but we have 12 in the 11-16 groups, then 6 in the Care Leavers group.
Contact details for the group – email [email protected]
Health and Wellbeing
Care leavers do not get free access to leisure facilities as part of the Local Offer
Special Occasions
Southampton City Council pays towards Christmas and other religious celebrations for care leavers
Details:
They receive hampers and vouchers
Southampton City Council pays towards birthday celebrations for care leavers
Details:
Birthday money given for 18th Birthday only
They do receive birthday cards for every birthday as a care leaver
Relationships
Southampton City Council does not have peer mentors (other care leavers)
Southampton City Council does not have other mentoring schemes
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 do not get emotional support before, during and after disclosure
Details:
This is being developed
Facts and Figures
Number of looked after children since 2014
| 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 582 | 591 | 540 | 522 | 481 | 486 | 498 | 561 | 538 |
|---|
Number of care leavers by age, year ending 31st March 2021
| 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | Total | 45 | 43 | 57 | 50 | 58 | 47 | 49 | 50 | 48 | 447 |
|---|
Percentage of care leavers going onto NEET since 2014
| 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 47% | n/a | 46% | 46% | 49% | 50% | 54% |
|---|
Political Control
Southampton City Council is a Labour controlled council
Ofsted Ratings
Publication date: 28 July 2023
Overall effectiveness: Good
Experiences and progress of children in care: Good
Experiences and progress of care leavers: Good
Impact of leaders on social work practice with children and families: Outstanding
If you think this information needs updating then please get in touch