Swindon Borough Council

Care leavers receive priority for social housing

Priority is offered up to the age of: 25

Banding priority is: A & B

Additional information / how to qualify:
The above is subject to consideration on a case-by-case basis. Positive Futures Leaving Care Service or Supported Housing providers can make referrals. Band A referrals are informed by an evidenced readiness for independence; informed by Independent Living Skills Programme and in future, the Tenants Academy.

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

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

Swindon 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Swindon Borough Council does not offer work experience within the council for care leavers

Swindon Borough Council will pay for work/interview clothes

Swindon Borough Council will pay towards travel to work or training

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

Care leavers are working as apprenticeships within Swindon Borough Council

Number per year: 2

Additional information about work and training:
We are taking on 2 cohorts of 5 YP on the Kickstart Program.  We are encouraging Care Leavers to apply and will guarantee them an interview

We are about to start work with New College to identify students who are care experienced so we can offer some work experience within Children’s Services somewhere.  They could be on any program – traineeships, study programs, whatever.  The idea is we start in our own Directorate and then hopefully roll this out to others. 

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

Passport: Yes

Provisional Driving Licence: Yes

Birth Certificate: Yes

Swindon Borough Council in principle will assist with driving lessons

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

Swindon Borough Council will not in principle assist with driving tests

Swindon Borough Council will not in principle assist with CBT tests

Partners local to Swindon 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 do not have the opportunity for mentoring with any of the senior leadership team

Additional details:
Both CIC & CL’s are invited to attend the Corporate Parenting Advisory Board (CPAB)

A care experienced young person sits on our CPAB

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

Details of council:
There are 18 members of the CIC Council age 7-17.
The Care Leaver participation group has 7 members

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

Swindon Borough Council does not have peer mentors (other care leavers)

Swindon Borough Council 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:
Young people can make an application either on line or via their PA – for those young people who are closed to the service they can still contact the service once closed to request support to make an access request.