Tameside Borough Council has not made care experience a protected characteristic.
Care Leaver Local Offer
Tameside Borough 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 Ofsted Children's Services Inspection Download Children's Services Focused Visit
as an app: Yes - Bee Connected
At Tameside Borough Council care leavers co-produce the local offer.
Details:
Our Care Leaver’s Forum co-produced content and design.
The best person to contact regarding the Local Offer is:
Name:
David Lamb
Email Address:
[email protected]
Telephone:
0161 3423163
The Director responsible for Children's Services is:
Name:
Ms Alison Stathers-Tracey
Email Address:
[email protected]
Council Tax
Tameside Borough Council has exempted care leavers from Council Tax
Council tax is exempted up to the age of: 25
Tameside Borough Council includes care leavers from other areas in their council tax exemption policy
To apply care leavers need to:
By identifying themselves as a Care Leaver on the Council Tax application or alerting their local council tax office if they believe they are eligible and not already in receipt of the discount.
There is an agreement for those living within the 10 Greater Manchester Local Authorities to be given exemption.
Housing
Care leavers receive priority for social housing
Priority is offered up to the age of: 21
Banding priority is: Band 2
Additional information / how to qualify:
Personal Advisors will support Care Leavers with the Tameside Housing Advice application and individual housing associations.
Care leavers do not get to practice independent living with taster flats
Tameside Borough Council will not in principle assist as a guarantor for care leavers in private rented property
Tameside Borough Council will not in principle assist with providing a deposit for care leavers in private rented property
Setting up a home
Care leavers are provided with a setting up allowance
Allowance amount: ££2000
Tameside Borough Council in principle will assist with support to pay at least the first year TV licence for care leavers
Tameside Borough Council in principle will assist with support to pay at least the first year home contents insurance for care leavers
Tameside Borough Council in principle will assist with support to pay for redecoration costs of a care leavers first flat
Tameside Borough Council will not in principle assist with support with broadband costs for care leavers
Tameside Borough Council will not in principle assist with support with mobile phone costs for care leavers
Tameside Borough Council will pay towards cooking equipment for care leavers
Employment and Apprenticeships
Tameside Borough Council offers work experience within the council for care leavers
Number of places per year: Not Fixed
Tameside Borough Council will pay for work/interview clothes
Tameside Borough Council will pay towards travel to work or training
There are ringfenced apprenticeship vacancies for care leavers at Tameside Borough Council
Not Fixed apprenticeship vacancies are ringfenced a year
Care leavers are working as apprenticeships within Tameside Borough Council
Number per year: 5+
Additional information about work and training:
We fund internships with Active Tameside who run our sports and leisure facilities –15 over 2 years ring fenced.
Participation in Society
Tameside Borough Council will ensure each young person has ID documents when they leave care
Passport: Yes
Provisional Driving Licence: Yes
Birth Certificate: Yes
Tameside Borough Council in principle will assist with driving lessons
Tameside Borough Council in principle will assist with driving theory tests
Tameside Borough Council in principle will assist with driving tests
Tameside Borough Council in principle will assist with CBT tests
Partners local to Tameside Borough Council offer support with free travel for care leavers
Bus: Yes
Train / Tram: No
Additional details:
Greater Manchester public transport: Our Pass –free bus travel across Greater Manchester for Care Leavers aged 16-21 Local Authorities pay initial £10 for the Our Pass. Care Leavers must self fund any replacements.
Access to corporate parents
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:
Care Leavers Forum is open to all Care Leavers to attend. Corporate Parents regularly attend the Care Leavers Forum. Representatives from the Care Leavers Forum attend bi-monthly Corporate Parenting Board.
Children in care and care leavers council
Tameside Borough Council has a children in care and care leavers council
Details of council:
Attendance is varied, with numbers reduced during on-line meetings due to covid restrictions. CICC has on average 6 to 8 young people attending. CICC and Care Leavers forum meets monthly.
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: No
Free classes: No
We are unable to confirm up to what age free leisure is provided
They cannot take a friend for free
Details to apply:
Request via their Personal Advisor.
Special Occasions
Tameside Borough Council pays towards Christmas and other religious celebrations for care leavers
Details:
16/17 receive £100 and 18-21 receive £25
Tameside Borough Council pays towards birthday celebrations for care leavers
Details:
16/18 receive £80 if living in semi-independent or independent accommodation , 18 year olds receive £100 and 19 -21 receive £25
Relationships
Tameside Borough Council does not have peer mentors (other care leavers)
Tameside Borough Council does not have other mentoring schemes
Access to care files
Young people 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:
Support is available via the allocated Personal Advisor.
Facts and Figures
Number of looked after children since 2014
| 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 417 | 428 | 515 | 617 | 664 | 704 | 682 | 666 | 656 |
|---|
Number of care leavers by age, year ending 31st March 2021
| 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | Total | 73 | 80 | 83 | 55 | 47 | 31 | 58 | 46 | 33 | 506 |
|---|
Percentage of care leavers going onto NEET since 2014
| 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 40% | n/a | 42% | 43% | 50% | 49% | 58% |
|---|
Political Control
Tameside Borough Council is a Labour controlled council
Ofsted Ratings
Publication date: 01 July 2019
Overall effectiveness: Requires Improvement
Experiences and progress of children in care: N/A
Experiences and progress of care leavers: Requires Improvement
Impact of leaders on social work practice with children and families: Requires Improvement
If you think this information needs updating then please get in touch