Wirral has not made care experience a protected characteristic.
Care Leaver Local Offer
Wirral 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 Committee Report proposing Local Offer Download Leaving Care Entitlements Download Leaving Care Act Leaflet Download Pathway Hub Download Ofsted Children's Services Inspection Download Children's Services Focused Visit
as an app: No
At Wirral care leavers co-produce the local offer.
Details:
Wirral Council’s Local Offer for Care Leavers, with the involvement of Care Leavers, the Leaving Care Service and all parts of Wirral Council, its partner agencies and other stakeholders, seeks to provide an outstanding service for Wirral Care Leavers
The best person to contact regarding the Local Offer is:
Name:
Wirral Leaving Care Service
Telephone:
0151 666 3777
The Director responsible for Children's Services is:
Name:
Ms Simone White
Email Address:
[email protected]
Council Tax
Wirral has exempted care leavers from Council Tax
Council tax is exempted up to the age of: 25
Wirral does not include care leavers from other areas in their council tax exemption policy
Housing
We are unable to confirm whether care leavers receive priority for social housing
We are unable to confirm whether care leavers get to practice independent living with taster flats
Wirral will not in principle assist as a guarantor for care leavers in private rented property
Wirral in principle will assist with providing a deposit for care leavers in private rented property
Details:
We may be able to support you with agency fees, deposits and rent in advance depending on individual circumstances (Note it is illegal for landlords or agents to charge fees anymore)
Setting up a home
Care leavers are provided with a setting up allowance
Allowance amount: £2000
Wirral will not in principle assist with support to pay at least the first year TV licence for care leavers
Wirral will not in principle assist with support to pay at least the first year home contents insurance for care leavers
Wirral will not in principle assist with support to pay for redecoration costs of a care leavers first flat
Wirral will not in principle assist with support with broadband costs for care leavers
Wirral will not in principle assist with support with mobile phone costs for care leavers
Wirral will not pay towards cooking equipment for care leavers
Employment and Apprenticeships
Wirral offers work experience within the council for care leavers
We are unable to confirm how many places per year
Wirral will not pay for work/interview clothes
Wirral will pay towards travel to work or training
There are ringfenced apprenticeship vacancies for care leavers at Wirral
10 apprenticeship vacancies are ringfenced a year
There are no care leavers working as apprenticeships within Wirral
Participation in Society
Wirral will ensure each young person has ID documents when they leave care
Passport: Yes
Provisional Driving Licence: Yes
Birth Certificate: Yes
Wirral in principle will assist with driving lessons
Wirral in principle will assist with driving theory tests
Wirral in principle will assist with driving tests
Wirral will not in principle assist with CBT tests
Partners local to Wirral do not offer support with free travel for care leavers
Access to corporate parents
Care leavers do not 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
Children in care and care leavers council
Wirral has a children in care and care leavers council
Details of council:
Care Leavers Council 16 to 21
Care Leavers Council 21 Plus
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
Health and Wellbeing
Care leavers do not get free access to leisure facilities as part of the Local Offer
Special Occasions
Wirral pays towards Christmas and other religious celebrations for care leavers
Details:
All Care Leavers receive a gift card for £20 at Christmas or at another time relating to a significant religious festival depending on what religion you choose to identify yourself as.
Wirral pays towards birthday celebrations for care leavers
Details:
When you are 19 & 20 you will receive a gift card for £50. When you are 18 & 21 we recognize these as special birthdays and you will receive a gift card for £100.
Relationships
Wirral does not have peer mentors (other care leavers)
Wirral does not have other mentoring schemes
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 do not get emotional support before, during and after disclosure
Facts and Figures
Number of looked after children since 2014
| 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 672 | 667 | 768 | 834 | 832 | 811 | 826 | 789 | 772 |
|---|
Number of care leavers by age, year ending 31st March 2021
| 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | Total | 76 | 84 | 78 | 64 | 69 | 46 | 78 | 78 | 66 | 639 |
|---|
Percentage of care leavers going onto NEET since 2014
| 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 41% | n/a | 47% | 45% | 46% | 51% | 42% |
|---|
Political Control
Wirral is a Labour controlled council
Ofsted Ratings
Publication date: 29 July 2019
Overall effectiveness: Requires Improvement
Experiences and progress of children in care: N/A
Experiences and progress of care leavers: Requires Improvement
Impact of leaders on social work practice with children and families: Good
If you think this information needs updating then please get in touch