Sutton has made care experience a protected characteristic.
Care Leaver Local Offer
Sutton 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 Ofsted Children's Services Inspection
as an app: No
At Sutton care leavers co-produce the local offer.
Details:
Original website was produced by the Children in Care Council. It is currently under review and youngpeople have been engaged in user research
The best person to contact regarding the Local Offer is:
Name:
Leaving Care Team
Email Address:
[email protected]
Telephone:
0208 770 6600
The Director responsible for Children's Services is:
Name:
Mr Jonathan Williams
Email Address:
[email protected]
Council Tax
Sutton has exempted care leavers from Council Tax
Council tax is exempted up to the age of: 25
Sutton includes care leavers from other areas in their council tax exemption policy
To apply care leavers need to:
Complete the council tax reduction form online with support from their allocated worker
Housing
Care leavers receive priority for social housing
Priority is offered up to the age of: 25
Banding priority is: A
Additional information / how to qualify:
Limit of 25 per year
Care leavers get to practice independent living with taster flats
Additional information:
None provided.
Sutton will not in principle assist as a guarantor for care leavers in private rented property
Sutton in principle will assist with providing a deposit for care leavers in private rented property
Details:
None provided.
Setting up a home
Care leavers are provided with a setting up allowance
Allowance amount: £2000
Sutton in principle will assist with support to pay at least the first year TV licence for care leavers
Sutton will not in principle assist with support to pay at least the first year home contents insurance for care leavers
Sutton in principle will assist with support to pay for redecoration costs of a care leavers first flat
Sutton in principle will assist with support with broadband costs for care leavers
Sutton in principle will assist with support with mobile phone costs for care leavers
Sutton will pay towards cooking equipment for care leavers
Employment and Apprenticeships
Sutton offers work experience within the council for care leavers
Number of places per year: Case by case basis
Sutton will pay for work/interview clothes
Sutton will pay towards travel to work or training
There are ringfenced apprenticeship vacancies for care leavers at Sutton
2 apprenticeship vacancies are ringfenced a year
There are no care leavers working as apprenticeships within Sutton
Participation in Society
Sutton will ensure each young person has ID documents when they leave care
Passport: Yes
Provisional Driving Licence: Yes
Birth Certificate: Yes
Sutton in principle will assist with driving lessons
Sutton in principle will assist with driving theory tests
Sutton in principle will assist with driving tests
Sutton in principle will assist with CBT tests
Partners local to Sutton 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:
None provided.
Children in care and care leavers council
Sutton has a children in care and care leavers council
Details of council:
The Children in Care Council (CiCC) is currently being relaunched and we have 11 members. Due to the
low numbers, we are unable to breakdown by age.
The CiCC can be contacted at [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
Health and Wellbeing
Care leavers get free access to leisure facilities as part of the Local Offer
Free gym membership: Yes
Free swimming: Yes
Free classes: Yes
Free leisure up to the age of: 25
They cannot take a friend for free
Details to apply:
Their allocated worker or business support.
All of the above on a case by case basis.
Special Occasions
Sutton pays towards Christmas and other religious celebrations for care leavers
Details:
£10 per celebration
Sutton pays towards birthday celebrations for care leavers
Details:
£25 for 16th, 17th birthday, 19th, 20th, 22nd, 23rd, 24th
£50 for 18th and 25th
Relationships
Sutton has peer mentors (other care leavers)
Sutton has other mentoring schemes
Details:
None provided.
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 get emotional support before, during and after disclosure
Details:
None provided.
Facts and Figures
Number of looked after children since 2014
| 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 227 | 232 | 230 | 215 | 237 | 234 | 239 | 236 | 234 |
|---|
Number of care leavers by age, year ending 31st March 2021
| 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | Total | 47 | 67 | 32 | 45 | 62 | 55 | 32 | 29 | 28 | 397 |
|---|
Percentage of care leavers going onto NEET since 2014
| 2015 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 36% | 36% | 34% | 34% | 29% | 37% |
|---|
Political Control
Sutton is a Liberal Democrats controlled council
Ofsted Ratings
Publication date: 01 February 2022
Overall effectiveness: Good
Experiences and progress of children in care: N/A
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