Warrington Borough Council

Care leavers receive priority for social housing

Priority is offered up to the age of: 25

Banding priority is: Band 1

Additional information / how to qualify:
All Care Leavers get Priority 1 up to the age of 25. Priority is given on each occasion the Care Leaver may require housing.

Care leavers get to practice independent living with taster flats

Additional information:
We run a supported accommodation scheme

Warrington Borough Council in principle will assist as a guarantor for care leavers in private rented property

Warrington Borough Council in principle will assist with providing a deposit for care leavers in private rented property

Care leavers are provided with a setting up allowance

Allowance amount: ££2500

Warrington Borough Council in principle will assist with support to pay at least the first year TV licence for care leavers

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

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

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

Warrington Borough Council in principle will assist with support with mobile phone costs for care leavers

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

Warrington Borough Council offers work experience within the council for care leavers

Number of places per year: Variable

Warrington Borough Council will pay for work/interview clothes

Warrington Borough Council will pay towards travel to work or training

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

Care leavers are working as apprenticeships within Warrington Borough Council

Number per year: 2 Children In Care Ambassadors

Additional information about work and training:

We run a 8-12 week course for Care Leavers ‘Take Control’ every year for those furthest away from EET
All NEET Care Leavers have been referred to ‘Journey First’
We are in process of appointing a Senior PA to scope, set up and launch a ‘Care Leavers Academy’ – funded by the UK Prosperity Fund
A new Care Leavers ‘Drop In’ is due to open in Autumn 2023.

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

Passport: Yes

Provisional Driving Licence: Yes

Birth Certificate: Yes

Warrington Borough Council in principle will assist with driving lessons

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

Warrington Borough Council in principle will assist with driving tests

Warrington Borough Council in principle will assist with CBT tests

Partners local to Warrington 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:
We have 3 CIC Ambassadors – who are employed by WBC. They regularly attend Corporate Parenting Forum.
During Care Leavers week we offer a mentoring day for Care Leavers
We employ 2 Care Leavers at our Restorative Practice Academy

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

Details of council:
Current group is ages 11-18 and averages 3-5 attendees per session

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

Warrington Borough Council has peer mentors (other care leavers)

Warrington Borough Council does not have other mentoring schemes

Details:
Care Leavers are employed in our Restorative Practice Academy

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:
Personal advisor provides this support, we have also secured funding for an emotional well-being worker that will support this process too