Southend-on-Sea Borough Council

Care leavers receive priority for social housing

Priority is offered up to the age of: No Age Limit

Banding priority is: A

Additional information / how to qualify:
This is dependant on many variable circumstances for each individual young person but they do have priority banding. They are automatically given a priority banding once they have been supported to join the housing register.

Majority of our young people will go via the housing access panel to get a supported accommodation and once they progressed at the supported accommodation they will qualify for bidding for Band A properties.

Care leavers do not get to practice independent living with taster flats

Southend-on-Sea Borough Council will not in principle assist as a guarantor for care leavers in private rented property

Southend-on-Sea Borough Council in principle will assist with providing a deposit for care leavers in private rented property

Details:
The Local authority provide a deposit under the private rent scheme.

Care leavers are provided with a setting up allowance

Allowance amount: ££1500

Southend-on-Sea Borough Council will not in principle assist with support to pay at least the first year TV licence for care leavers

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

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

Southend-on-Sea Borough Council will not in principle assist with support with broadband costs for care leavers

Southend-on-Sea Borough Council will not in principle assist with support with mobile phone costs for care leavers

Southend-on-Sea Borough Council will not pay towards cooking equipment for care leavers

Southend-on-Sea Borough Council offers work experience within the council for care leavers

Number of places per year: Varies

Southend-on-Sea Borough Council will pay for work/interview clothes

Southend-on-Sea Borough Council will pay towards travel to work or training

There are no ringfenced apprenticeship vacancies for care leavers at Southend-on-Sea Borough Council

There are no care leavers working as apprenticeships within Southend-on-Sea Borough Council

Southend-on-Sea Borough Council will ensure each young person has ID documents when they leave care

Passport: Yes

Provisional Driving Licence: Yes

Birth Certificate: Yes

Southend-on-Sea Borough Council in principle will assist with driving lessons

Southend-on-Sea Borough Council in principle will assist with driving theory tests

Southend-on-Sea Borough Council in principle will assist with driving tests

Southend-on-Sea Borough Council will not in principle assist with CBT tests

Partners local to Southend-on-Sea Borough 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

Additional details:
Young people are invited to the CPG meetings to meet the councilors, senior management etc.

Southend-on-Sea Borough Council has a children in care and care leavers council

Details of council:
Yes, the Children Looked After Council is known as YEGs (Young Experts Group
There are 6 young people in the council age group from 16 to 21.

Children in care and care leavers council has its own bank account

Children in care and care leavers council has its own constitution

Details:
Yes, the Children Looked After Council is known as YEGs (Young Experts Group).

Southend-on-Sea Borough Council does not have peer mentors (other care leavers)

Southend-on-Sea Borough Council has other mentoring schemes

Details:
Yes – We have access to mentoring schemes in the community.

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:
Young people are supported by the social workers, PA’s and therapists (if available to help them emotionally to go through the file.