West Berkshire Council

Care leavers receive priority for social housing

Priority is offered up to the age of: 21

Banding priority is: C

Additional information / how to qualify:
15% of social housing is ring fenced fort care leavers

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

West Berkshire Council in principle will assist as a guarantor for care leavers in private rented property

Details:
If no other option is availale.

West Berkshire Council in principle will assist with providing a deposit for care leavers in private rented property

Details:
Can be part of setting up home allowance

Care leavers are provided with a setting up allowance

Allowance amount: ££3000

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

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

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

West Berkshire Council will not in principle assist with support with broadband costs for care leavers

West Berkshire Council in principle will assist with support with mobile phone costs for care leavers

West Berkshire Council will pay towards cooking equipment for care leavers

West Berkshire Council does not offer work experience within the council for care leavers

West Berkshire Council will pay for work/interview clothes

West Berkshire Council will pay towards travel to work or training

There are no ringfenced apprenticeship vacancies for care leavers at West Berkshire Council

Care leavers are working as apprenticeships within West Berkshire Council

Number per year: 3

West Berkshire Council will ensure each young person has ID documents when they leave care

Passport: Yes

Provisional Driving Licence: Yes

Birth Certificate: Yes

West Berkshire Council in principle will assist with driving lessons

West Berkshire Council in principle will assist with driving theory tests

West Berkshire Council will not in principle assist with driving tests

West Berkshire Council will not in principle assist with CBT tests

Partners local to West Berkshire 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:
This has been offered over time, the opportunities are not always what the care leaver want. This is an area we are developing with our mentoring and care champions.

West Berkshire Council has a children in care and care leavers council

Details of council:
Nine young people attend aged 12 – 15.

Contact details are mine 07554114577 or [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

West Berkshire Council has peer mentors (other care leavers)

West Berkshire Council has other mentoring schemes

Details:
Our 16 Plus & Leaving Care Team deliver a number of different activities these include: Community Groups, Workshops & Trips, during these activities we have a number of older more experienced young people that help us plan, deliver & evaluate the programmes we offer. 

Mentoring & Peer Support:

Alongside the group work we deliver we also have a Mentoring Scheme, this was originally set up as a Meet & Greet service to help our new UAS young people settle into their new lives in the UK.  Our Mentors will meet and welcome new asylum seeking children and take them out to things like visiting their local Mosque, to their first day at college or around their local town.  During these sessions the Mentors are also introducing things like how to use public transport, shopping and our currency.  As our Mentors skills develop so does their roles & responsibilities as a Mentor, we now have young people supporting others in areas such as how to secure employment, how to manage their tenancies in social housing and advocating for children in their Child in Care Reviews. 

Fitness & Sport Mentoring Scheme:

West Berkshire Council have two care experienced Personal Trainers that are delivering a range of fitness sessions for our current children in care & care leavers.  The Personal Trainers offer a bespoke fitness programme tailored to the individuals needs, this includes: Boxing or Mai-Thai Boxing Lessons in their own Boxing Gym, Personal Training & Gym Inductions at our local Leisure Centre, Bootcamps for Groups of young people and Outdoor Personal Training sessions in Recreation Grounds.  Alongside the planned activities the fitness coaches also Mentor the young people as they can share their own experiences of previously being a Looked After Children within West Berkshire.


All of the above programmes are successful due to the close relationships our PA’s have with their care experienced young people, this results in our young people wanting to continue working with us long after they have closed to our service.  The schemes also encourage our team to nurture & develop “Home-grown” talent from our care experienced young people.

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’s undertake this role