Havering

Care leavers receive priority for social housing

Priority is offered up to the age of: 25

Banding priority is: Highest band possible

Additional information / how to qualify:
Young people with care experience are entitled to priority housing at the age of 18. They will be given a tenancy when they are assessed and have provided the evidence that they have the skills to live independently.

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

Havering will not in principle assist as a guarantor for care leavers in private rented property

Havering in principle will assist with providing a deposit for care leavers in private rented property

Details:
The housing department will assess and assist young people with private housing deposits if appropriate

Care leavers are provided with a setting up allowance

Allowance amount: £2000

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

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

Havering will not in principle assist with support to pay for redecoration costs of a care leavers first flat

Havering will not in principle assist with support with broadband costs for care leavers

Havering will not in principle assist with support with mobile phone costs for care leavers

Havering will not pay towards cooking equipment for care leavers

Havering offers work experience within the council for care leavers

We are unable to confirm how many places per year

We are unable to confirm whether Havering will pay for work/interview clothes

Havering will pay towards travel to work or training

There are ringfenced apprenticeship vacancies for care leavers at Havering

2 apprenticeship vacancies are ringfenced a year

We are unable to confirm if there are care leavers working as apprenticeships within Havering

Additional information about work and training:
Havering have an apprenticeship scheme which is open to Havering young people Maximus – (contracted by DWP to work specifically with Care Leavers) referrals are made to Maximus via Pathway Coordinator to assist our Care Leavers with CV writing, job search and applications, course search and enrolment, financial assistance with regards to course, certificates, ID, travel, uniforms and more.
Maximus work with the young adults until in employment or training.
Future Choices Mentors – a service designed and implemented by Leaving Care and Early Help. Referrals are made by Leaving Care workers to Pathway CoOrdinator and Care Leavers are matched for a 12 month one to one EET mentoring support service, with a trained and DBS checked volunteer.
Boost Plus Resilience Mentors – a new service delivered by Prospects. Referrals made by Leaving Care workers to Pathway Co-Ordinator who liaises with Prospects. Care Leavers are assigned a one to one mentor over the course of 15 months. This includes meal vouchers and a 14 bespoke activities within this period – e.g. completing college forms, applying for full or part time jobs, health and well-being, staying safe online, sports, etc
AccessHE – Leaving Care work closely with AccessHE to encourage our Care Leavers to apply for University or Degree Apprenticeships. During the February half term AccessHE and Pathway Co-Ordinator delivered a Live Event discussing how to apply, UCAS forms, bursaries and funding, personal statements and more. Recordings of the event subsequently shared with Care Leavers, who were unable to attend live.
Apprenticeship opportunities, jobs, work related courses are emailed regularly to the Leaving Care Team by Pathway Co-Ordinator to be shared with Care Leavers.
Currently in talks with the Co-Op to offer local work experience and trial days with a view to securing a job for our Care Leavers.

Havering will ensure each young person has ID documents when they leave care

Passport: Yes

Provisional Driving Licence: Yes

Birth Certificate: Yes

Havering will not in principle assist with driving lessons

Havering will not in principle assist with driving theory tests

Havering will not in principle assist with driving tests

Havering will not in principle assist with CBT tests

Partners local to Havering do not offer support with free travel for care leavers

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:
Prior to the lockdown there was regularly meeting with corporate parents and care leavers were able to attend and participated in these meeting. In addition, Young adults can meet with the Directors each month at the Directors Surgery.

Havering has a children in care and care leavers council

Details of council:
Leaving Care hold a youth management meeting each month where Young Adults are able to participate and express their views and opinions; ultimately influencing policy

Children in care and care leavers council has its own bank account

Children in care and care leavers council has its own constitution

Havering has peer mentors (other care leavers)

Havering has other mentoring schemes

Details:
Havering offer advocates and independent visitors to young people up to 25.
Young people are offered employment mentors through the employment worker.

Young people 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:
Young adults can access their files which are prepared for them by the complaints department.
Young people are offered the emotional support of their leaving care worker, systemic therapist and mental health practitioner