Wandsworth

Care leavers receive priority for social housing

Priority is offered up to the age of: Up to 25

Banding priority is: It’s a specialist queue called the Social Care Queue.

Additional information / how to qualify:
Their PA and they complete the application form, accompanying risk assessment and support plan and they YP complies all supporting evidence (bank statements etc) which are then submitted for sign off and processing by Housing.

Care leavers get to practice independent living with taster flats

Additional information:
We have a small selection of short term taster flats. We also have a large number of commissioned services providing high, medium and low support, which includes flat shares.

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

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

Details:
There are some conditions (i.e. they have to be at risk of homelessness).

Care leavers are provided with a setting up allowance

Allowance amount: ££2200

Wandsworth will not in principle assist with support to pay at least the first year TV licence for care leavers

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

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

Wandsworth in principle will assist with support with broadband costs for care leavers

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

Wandsworth will pay towards cooking equipment for care leavers

Wandsworth offers work experience within the council for care leavers

Number of places per year: There are currently 3 positions within the local authority.

Wandsworth will pay for work/interview clothes

Wandsworth will pay towards travel to work or training

There are ringfenced apprenticeship vacancies for care leavers at Wandsworth

3 apprenticeship vacancies are ringfenced a year

Care leavers are working as apprenticeships within Wandsworth

Number per year: 3

Additional information about work and training:
We have 3 dedicated Education, Employment and Training Advisors and we are also a Bright Lights pilot authority working with Catch 22 who provide us with an apprenticeship worker.

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

Passport: Yes

Provisional Driving Licence: Yes

Birth Certificate: Yes

Wandsworth in principle will assist with driving lessons

Wandsworth in principle will assist with driving theory tests

Wandsworth in principle will assist with driving tests

Wandsworth in principle will assist with CBT tests

Partners local to Wandsworth 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

Additional details:
N/A

Wandsworth has a children in care and care leavers council

Details of council:
Click (age 13-18) and Click Plus (age 17 to 25). Approximately 15 attend Click and 10 attend virtually. Approximately 8 attend Click Plus and 12 attend virtually. This is a really large group and we also have a Care Leaver’s Forum and Care Leaver’s Champions. For more information, please contact: Mei Lai Lu, Participation Manager, email: [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

Wandsworth does not have peer mentors (other care leavers)

Wandsworth has other mentoring schemes

Details:
We have a Grand mentors scheme which is run by Volunteering Matters for a 2 year project in our Local Authority. This is specifically for Care Experienced young people and aims to match 60 YP with a mentor over 2 years.

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:
We offer Coram Voice referrals and PA direct support when the YP requests their file whilst still with our service. After they leave our service, we are not informed if they access their records.