Croydon has made care experience a protected characteristic.
Care Leaver Local Offer
Croydon 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 for Care Leavers Download Care Leavers Committee Report March 21 Download Ofsted Children's Services Inspection Download Children's Services Focused Visit
as an app: No
At Croydon care leavers co-produce the local offer.
Details:
A group of young people from E.M.P.I.R.E. and the care leavers’ forum were consulted and contributed to the revision.
The best person to contact regarding the Local Offer is:
Name:
The Turnaround Centre
Telephone:
020 8760 553
The Director responsible for Children's Services is:
Name:
Ms Debbie Jones
Email Address:
[email protected]
Council Tax
Croydon has exempted care leavers from Council Tax
Council tax is exempted up to the age of: 25
Croydon does not include care leavers from other areas in their council tax exemption policy
To apply care leavers need to:
To apply, please email [email protected]
If you were in care in Croydon but placed by a different local authority, please send:
- evidence from the local authority confirming that you were a former looked after child
- a copy of your current tenancy agreement
Housing
Care leavers do not receive priority for social housing
Care leavers do not get to practice independent living with taster flats
Croydon will not in principle assist as a guarantor for care leavers in private rented property
Croydon 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
Croydon will not in principle assist with support to pay at least the first year TV licence for care leavers
Croydon will not in principle assist with support to pay at least the first year home contents insurance for care leavers
Croydon will not in principle assist with support to pay for redecoration costs of a care leavers first flat
Croydon will not in principle assist with support with broadband costs for care leavers
Croydon will not in principle assist with support with mobile phone costs for care leavers
Croydon will not pay towards cooking equipment for care leavers
Employment and Apprenticeships
Croydon does not offer work experience within the council for care leavers
Croydon will not pay for work/interview clothes
Croydon will not pay towards travel to work or training
There are no ringfenced apprenticeship vacancies for care leavers at Croydon
There are no care leavers working as apprenticeships within Croydon
Participation in Society
Croydon will not ensure each young person has ID documents when they leave care
Croydon will not in principle assist with driving lessons
Croydon will not in principle assist with driving theory tests
Croydon will not in principle assist with driving tests
Croydon will not in principle assist with CBT tests
Partners local to Croydon 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
Croydon has a children in care and care leavers council
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 get free access to leisure facilities as part of the Local Offer
Free gym membership: Yes
Free swimming: Unknown
Free classes: Unknown
We are unable to confirm up to what age free leisure is provided
We are unable to confirm if they can take a friend for free
Special Occasions
Croydon does not pay towards Christmas and other religious celebrations for care leavers
Croydon pays towards birthday celebrations for care leavers
Details:
A gift and a contribution towards the cost of celebrations will be paid to you
until your 21st birthday if you are in contact with us
- £50 for your 17th, 19th and 20th birthdays
- £100 for your 18th and 21st birthdays
Relationships
Croydon does not have peer mentors (other care leavers)
Croydon 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 | 807 | 806 | 785 | 772 | 818 | 791 | 680 | 550 | 531 |
|---|
Number of care leavers by age, year ending 31st March 2021
| 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | Total | 196 | 228 | 304 | 295 | 300 | 261 | 216 | 201 | 223 | 2224 |
|---|
Percentage of care leavers going onto NEET since 2014
| 2015 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 23% | 31% | 31% | 33% | 28% | 36% |
|---|
Political Control
Croydon is a Labour controlled council
Ofsted Ratings
Publication date: 16 March 2020
Overall effectiveness: Good
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