Wokingham Borough Council

Care leavers receive priority for social housing

Priority is offered up to the age of: From 18 if care leaver is in housing need, and has completed tenancy training

Banding priority is: Band 2

Additional information / how to qualify:
All Wokingham eligible care leavers are offered priority banding. PA’s and Social Workers will help identify housing needs through the pathway planning process and will support the care leaver to make an application to the housing register. Care leavers will be discussed at the Young People’s Housing Panel to help progress housing plans jointly across children’s services and housing department.
When making an application to the housing register, individuals will be asked if they are a care leaver.
Care leavers will have opportunity to meet with the young people’s homelessness prevention officer to help develop housing plans were needed.

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

Wokingham Borough Council will not in principle assist as a guarantor for care leavers in private rented property

Wokingham Borough Council in principle will assist with providing a deposit for care leavers in private rented property

Details:
Housing team offer a rental deposit scheme

Care leavers are provided with a setting up allowance

Allowance amount: ££3000

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

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

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

Wokingham Borough Council will not in principle assist with support with broadband costs for care leavers

Wokingham Borough Council in principle will assist with support with mobile phone costs for care leavers

Wokingham Borough Council will pay towards cooking equipment for care leavers

Wokingham Borough Council offers work experience within the council for care leavers

Number of places per year: Unlimited

Wokingham Borough Council will pay for work/interview clothes

Wokingham Borough Council will pay towards travel to work or training

There are no ringfenced apprenticeship vacancies for care leavers at Wokingham Borough Council

There are no care leavers working as apprenticeships within Wokingham Borough Council

Additional information about work and training:
Care leavers are offered support to write CV’s, interview advice, support with access to work through partner agencies where there are additional needs. Careers information, advice and guidance is provided by both the Virtual School and the Elevate Team, to support with exploring options and next steps.

Wokingham Borough Council will ensure each young person has ID documents when they leave care

Passport: Yes

Provisional Driving Licence: Yes

Birth Certificate: Yes

Wokingham Borough Council in principle will assist with driving lessons

Wokingham Borough Council in principle will assist with driving theory tests

Wokingham Borough Council in principle will assist with driving tests

Wokingham Borough Council in principle will assist with CBT tests

Partners local to Wokingham Borough 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

Wokingham Borough Council has a children in care and care leavers council

Details of council:
If yes, please provide details. (how many attend and age groups/contact details)

Children in care council: Open to 7-15 year olds (split age groups) attended by **** Contact details:  [email protected]

Care Leaver forum: Open to 16-25 year olds. Attended by 5 care leavers run 4-6weekly. Contact details – [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

Wokingham Borough Council does not have peer mentors (other care leavers)

Wokingham Borough Council does not have other mentoring schemes

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:
Personal advisor supports with this