West Sussex County Council

Care leavers do not receive priority for social housing

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

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

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

Details:
This is paid for by a central fund and in some circumstances comes out of their Setting Up Home Allowance.

Care leavers are provided with a setting up allowance

Allowance amount: £3000

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

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

West Sussex County Council will not in principle assist with support to pay for redecoration costs of a care leavers first flat

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

West Sussex County Council will not in principle assist with support with mobile phone costs for care leavers

West Sussex County Council will pay towards cooking equipment for care leavers

West Sussex County Council offers work experience within the council for care leavers

Number of places per year: Career taster sessions – no limit on numbers

West Sussex County Council will pay for work/interview clothes

West Sussex County Council will pay towards travel to work or training

There are ringfenced apprenticeship vacancies for care leavers at West Sussex County Council

We are unable to confirm how many are ringfenced a year

Care leavers are working as apprenticeships within West Sussex County Council

We are unable to confirm the number per year

Additional information about work and training:
We will provide transport costs for the first month in work. We provide up to £500 allowance that can be used on supporting employment- This could include clothes, equipment, materials, tools.
Also work alongside DWP to support this and Suited and Booted

Care Leavers Service in West Sussex is working hard to improve opportunities and support to Care Leavers wanting work, training, and education.

We work closely with DWP colleagues/ Jobcentre workers to support opportunities for Care Leavers and to access this support.

DWP- attend our Journey to Independence Group (improving outcomes for Care Leavers)

DWP introduced no sanctions regionally from this work to ensure no Care Leaver will be sanctioned without DWP completing risk assessment and liaison with Care Leavers Service.

Careers advice- West Sussex Careers Service available for all care leavers

Local Offer website provides lots of useful information this web site is designed to provide guidance, information, and our Local Offer-

Career Taster opportunities across Local Authority (LA) services for Care Leavers

Guaranteed interviews with LA if meet job/apprenticeship role criteria

Apprenticeships across LA services.

2 new Ring-fenced roles in Voice and Participation for Care experienced.

Funding Bridging Gap Course for 10 YP at Chichester University- 2 YP who attended last year are now working as Child and Family Workers (ring fenced) and starting their Social Work apprenticeships in September 23.

Event held online for Care Leavers with NHS for Health Care Assistant roles-Including those who are waiting immigration decisions as part of Shortage Occupation list. CL wanting this can ask PA to facilitate a meeting with person overseeing this for an informal chat.

Working with John Lewis for jobs starting in October this year

Working with Gatwick for opportunities for jobs and apprenticeships moving forward

Starting work with some D&B’s to look at apprenticeships/job opportunities for Care Leavers

Signing up with Care Leaver Covenant

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

Passport: Yes

Provisional Driving Licence: Yes

Birth Certificate: Yes

West Sussex County Council in principle will assist with driving lessons

West Sussex County Council in principle will assist with driving theory tests

West Sussex County Council in principle will assist with driving tests

West Sussex County Council will not in principle assist with CBT tests

Partners local to West Sussex 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

Additional details:
Attend corporate parenting panels also attend events EPIC awards etc.

West Sussex County Council has a children in care and care leavers council

Details of council:
We have Children In Care Council- meet fortnightly ages 10-15 years – 25 Young People
[email protected]
Care Leavers Advisory Board- meet fortnightly 16-25- 12 Young People

Children in care and care leavers council does not have its own bank account

Children in care and care leavers council has its own constitution

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

West Sussex County Council has other mentoring schemes

Details:
Peer mentoring has been set up as part of House Project with Young People taking on this role from our first group going through the House Project. Young People volunteer for this. As part of House Project, Young People are also part of the Care Leavers National Movement.

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 will support Care Leavers to access their records and will support them emotionally. The advocacy team can also support care leavers through this. Care Leavers and Voice & Participation team have put together guidance for Care Leavers.