Warwickshire County Council

Care leavers receive priority for social housing

Priority is offered up to the age of: 21

Banding priority is: Band 1

Additional information / how to qualify:
Young people are supported in their transition from Children in Care to leaving care by a housing
officer where there are difficulties with a move on plan to own accommodation. Housing officer
advocates with the housing departments to ensure priority banding and securing own tenancies or
other accommodations where necessary. If accommodation breaks down when older we also have
dedicated housing officers to assist and ensure homelessness is avoided. The young people should
contact their PA or [email protected] to access support.

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

Warwickshire County Council in principle will assist as a guarantor for care leavers in private rented property

Details:
On a case by case basis.

Warwickshire County Council in principle will assist with providing a deposit for care leavers in private rented property

Details:
On a case by case basis.

Care leavers are provided with a setting up allowance

Allowance amount: £3,000

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

Warwickshire County Council in principle will assist with support to pay at least the first year home contents insurance for care leavers

Warwickshire County Council in principle will assist with support to pay for redecoration costs of a care leavers first flat

Warwickshire County Council in principle will assist with support with broadband costs for care leavers

Warwickshire County Council in principle will assist with support with mobile phone costs for care leavers

Warwickshire County Council will pay towards cooking equipment for care leavers

Warwickshire County Council does not offer work experience within the council for care leavers

Warwickshire County Council will pay for work/interview clothes

Warwickshire County Council will pay towards travel to work or training

There are ringfenced apprenticeship vacancies for care leavers at Warwickshire County Council

Up to 10 apprenticeship opportunities. apprenticeship vacancies are ringfenced a year

Care leavers are working as apprenticeships within Warwickshire County Council

Number per year: 2-3

Additional information about work and training:
We three Careers Support and Guidance Officers working across leaving care and our UASC
service. We run weekly drop ins across the county offering careers support to young people
and opportunity to compelte CV’s and job skills. DWP also atend to support young people
with any UC claims / issues. We support young people to apply for CSCS cards if required,
provide work equipment necessary to the role ie safety boots/clothing.

Warwickshire County Council will ensure each young person has ID documents when they leave care

Passport: Yes

Provisional Driving Licence: Yes

Birth Certificate: Yes

Warwickshire County Council in principle will assist with driving lessons

Warwickshire County Council will not in principle assist with driving theory tests

Warwickshire County Council will not in principle assist with driving tests

Warwickshire County Council in principle will assist with CBT tests

Partners local to Warwickshire County 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

Warwickshire County Council has a children in care and care leavers council

Details of council:
Children in Care Council is for young people aged 11 - 17 and is attended by around 18
children
Care Leaver's Forum is for those aged 17 – 25 and is attended by around 12 young people
Contact: Marie Dionisi [email protected] for CICC
Contact: Liss Phillips [email protected] for the Care Leavers Froum.

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

Warwickshire County Council does not have peer mentors (other care leavers)

Warwickshire County Council has other mentoring schemes

Details:
We have the Grandmentors scheme provided by volunteeringmaters.or.uk. They provide informal
support for 15-25year olds on a 1-2-1 basis.

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:
PA will support YP’s through the process of accessing their files before , during and after. We have
provided workshops by Rees foundation to support with this also.