Southwark

Care leavers receive priority for social housing

Priority is offered up to the age of: 20

We are unable to confirm the banding priority

Additional information / how to qualify:
After you turn 18 and after an assessment that was agreed in your Pathway Plan we can agree that you are ready to manage the responsibilities of independent living. Independent living isn’t an automatic process when you reach a certain age, but is dependent on where you are in your journey to independence. Southwark Council’s Housing Department currently offers a 12-month probationary tenancy (a trial period) to Former Relevant Children and if you successfully complete this period, it can lead to a longer-term tenancy

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

Southwark will not in principle assist as a guarantor for care leavers in private rented property

Southwark in principle will assist with providing a deposit for care leavers in private rented property

Details:
If you rent a private flat, we can help by paying the deposit and up to four week’s rent in advance. Your private flat must be considered affordable though. Remember that if you receive Universal Credit, you should arrange for the rent to be paid directly to your landlord where that is possible (ask your PA or ask for a referral at the Job Centre).

Care leavers are provided with a setting up allowance

Allowance amount: £2000

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

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

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

Southwark will not in principle assist with support with broadband costs for care leavers

Southwark will not in principle assist with support with mobile phone costs for care leavers

Southwark will not pay towards cooking equipment for care leavers

Southwark does not offer work experience within the council for care leavers

Southwark will pay for work/interview clothes

Southwark will pay towards travel to work or training

There are no ringfenced apprenticeship vacancies for care leavers at Southwark

We are unable to confirm if there are care leavers working as apprenticeships within Southwark

Additional information about work and training:
When you start a job, we want to help! We can provide you with job-related expenses such as clothing for work and interviews, help with travel expenses until you are on your feet and money for lunches or other food until you are paid. We will agree this as part of your pathway plan.

Southwark will ensure each young person has ID documents when they leave care

Passport: Yes

Provisional Driving Licence: No

Birth Certificate: Yes

Southwark will not in principle assist with driving lessons

Southwark will not in principle assist with driving theory tests

Southwark will not in principle assist with driving tests

Southwark will not in principle assist with CBT tests

Partners local to Southwark do not offer support with free travel for care leavers

Care leavers do not 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

Southwark has a children in care and care leavers council

Details of council:
We want your thoughts on what’s going well, and what could be better. We’d love you to join Speaker Box, Southwark Council’s care and care leaver forum. You can help run campaigns and make videos on important topics, share your thoughts in monthly meetups or just meet new friends by coming to some of their events. To get in touch, call us on 020 7525 3186 or email [email protected].

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

Southwark does not have peer mentors (other care leavers)

Southwark does not have other mentoring schemes

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:
It is important that the case worker has telephone or direct contact with the care leaver to introduce themselves and explain the process. It provides an opportunity for the care leaver to discuss what they are hoping to obtain from their records, how s/he would like these to be shared and what they already know about their family and history. The case worker can also offer and identify what support the care leaver would like to receive. The care leaver should be assured that s/he will receive comprehensive information about their family background and time in care including information already known to them. It is important to offer to telephone the care leaver after they have received and read their records and to inform them that the case worker is available to try and answer any questions or concerns they may have