Westminster City Council has not made care experience a protected characteristic.
Care Leaver Local Offer
Westminster City 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 Local Offer Download Becoming a Care Leaver Leaflet Download Ofsted Children's Services Inspection Download Children's Services Focused Visit
as an app: No
At Westminster City Council care leavers co-produce the local offer.
Details:
No details provided.
The best person to contact regarding the Local Offer is:
Name:
None provided.
The Director responsible for Children's Services is:
Name:
Ms Sarah Newman
Email Address:
[email protected]
Council Tax
Westminster City Council has exempted care leavers from Council Tax
Council tax is exempted up to the age of: 25
Westminster City Council does not include care leavers from other areas in their council tax exemption policy
To apply care leavers need to:
(living in final stage accommodation and in full time employment or on benefits )
Housing
Care leavers receive priority for social housing
Priority is offered up to the age of: 21 / (25 if in education0
Banding priority is: n/a
Additional information / how to qualify:
None provided.
Care leavers get to practice independent living with taster flats
Additional information:
Bruce House and Gosfield street both provide this opportunity
Westminster City Council will not in principle assist as a guarantor for care leavers in private rented property
Westminster City 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
Westminster City Council will not in principle assist with support to pay at least the first year TV licence for care leavers
Westminster City Council will not in principle assist with support to pay at least the first year home contents insurance for care leavers
Westminster City Council in principle will assist with support to pay for redecoration costs of a care leavers first flat
Westminster City Council will not in principle assist with support with broadband costs for care leavers
Westminster City Council will not in principle assist with support with mobile phone costs for care leavers
Westminster City Council will pay towards cooking equipment for care leavers
Employment and Apprenticeships
Westminster City Council offers work experience within the council for care leavers
Number of places per year: Roughly around 3-5 per year
Westminster City Council will pay for work/interview clothes
Westminster City Council will pay towards travel to work or training
There are no ringfenced apprenticeship vacancies for care leavers at Westminster City Council
There are no care leavers working as apprenticeships within Westminster City Council
Additional information about work and training:
We have a housing and employment coach in the team that supports our care leavers into employment and training.
Participation in Society
Westminster City Council will ensure each young person has ID documents when they leave care
Passport: Yes
Provisional Driving Licence: Yes
Birth Certificate: Yes
Westminster City Council will not in principle assist with driving lessons
Westminster City Council in principle will assist with driving theory tests
Westminster City Council will not in principle assist with driving tests
Westminster City Council in principle will assist with CBT tests
Partners local to Westminster City Council do not offer support with free travel for care leavers
Access to corporate parents
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 YP that are mentored and supported by senior staff they also attend the Corporate Parenting boards too
Children in care and care leavers council
Westminster City Council has a children in care and care leavers council
Details of council:
We have up to 6-10 young people aged between 18 to 25
Children in care and care leavers council has 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: Yes
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:
None provided.
Special Occasions
Westminster City Council does not pay towards Christmas and other religious celebrations for care leavers
Westminster City Council does not pay towards birthday celebrations for care leavers
Relationships
Westminster City Council has peer mentors (other care leavers)
Westminster City Council has other mentoring schemes
Details:
None provided.
Access to care files
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:
They are supported by their workers, extremal support is provided for care leavers.
Facts and Figures
Number of looked after children since 2014
| 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 179 | 163 | 182 | 204 | 210 | 220 | 166 | 170 | 182 |
|---|
Number of care leavers by age, year ending 31st March 2021
| 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | Total | 100 | 89 | 120 | 105 | 56 | 56 | 51 | 56 | 56 | 689 |
|---|
Percentage of care leavers going onto NEET since 2014
| 2015 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 30% | 32% | 30% | 27% | 28% | 29% |
|---|
Political Control
Westminster City Council is a Conservative controlled council
Ofsted Ratings
Publication date: 15 October 2019
Overall effectiveness: Outstanding
Experiences and progress of children in care: N/A
Experiences and progress of care leavers: Outstanding
Impact of leaders on social work practice with children and families: Outstanding
If you think this information needs updating then please get in touch