Doncaster Borough Council has made care experience a protected characteristic.
Care Leaver Local Offer
Doncaster Borough Council 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 Financial Policy Download Care Leavers Opportunity Guide Download Council Tax Exemption Application Form Download Ofsted Children's Services Inspection Download Children's Services Focused Visit
as an app: No
At Doncaster Borough Council care leavers do not co-produce the local offer.
The best person to contact regarding the Local Offer is:
Name:
Neville Brown
Email Address:
[email protected]
Telephone:
01302 736551
The Director responsible for Children's Services is:
Name:
Ms Riana Nelson
Email Address:
[email protected]
Council Tax
Doncaster Borough Council has exempted care leavers from Council Tax
Council tax is exempted up to the age of: 25
Doncaster Borough Council does not include care leavers from other areas in their council tax exemption policy
To apply care leavers need to:
Tell their Personal Adviser that they have had a bill
Housing
Care leavers receive priority for social housing
Priority is offered up to the age of: 21
Banding priority is: Gold Banding
Additional information / how to qualify:
They also get what we call direct match which means if a suitable property comes along within their requested area they don’t have to bid it is offered to them.
Care leavers do not get to practice independent living with taster flats
Doncaster Borough Council will not in principle assist as a guarantor for care leavers in private rented property
Doncaster Borough Council in principle will 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
Doncaster Borough Council in principle will assist with support to pay at least the first year TV licence for care leavers
Doncaster Borough Council will not in principle assist with support to pay at least the first year home contents insurance for care leavers
Doncaster Borough Council in principle will assist with support to pay for redecoration costs of a care leavers first flat
Doncaster Borough Council will not in principle assist with support with broadband costs for care leavers
Doncaster Borough Council in principle will assist with support with mobile phone costs for care leavers
Doncaster Borough Council will pay towards cooking equipment for care leavers
Employment and Apprenticeships
Doncaster Borough Council does not offer work experience within the council for care leavers
Doncaster Borough Council will pay for work/interview clothes
Doncaster Borough Council will pay towards travel to work or training
There are ringfenced apprenticeship vacancies for care leavers at Doncaster Borough Council
3 apprenticeship vacancies are ringfenced a year
Care leavers are working as apprenticeships within Doncaster Borough Council
Number per year: 3
Participation in Society
Doncaster Borough Council will ensure each young person has ID documents when they leave care
Passport: Yes
Provisional Driving Licence: Yes
Birth Certificate: Yes
Doncaster Borough Council in principle will assist with driving lessons
Doncaster Borough Council in principle will assist with driving theory tests
Doncaster Borough Council in principle will assist with driving tests
Doncaster Borough Council in principle will assist with CBT tests
Partners local to Doncaster Borough Council do not offer support with free travel for care leavers
Access to corporate parents
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
Children in care and care leavers council
Doncaster Borough Council has a children in care and care leavers council
Details of council:
There are about 17 young people involved in our CIC Council. From aged 14 to 21.
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
Details:
The council has control of their own budget.
Health and Wellbeing
Care leavers get free access to leisure facilities as part of the Local Offer
Free gym membership: Yes
Free swimming: No
Free classes: No
Free leisure up to the age of: 21
They cannot take a friend for free
Details to apply:
Care Leaver’s get discounted leisure pass.
Special Occasions
Doncaster Borough Council pays towards Christmas and other religious celebrations for care leavers
Details:
At Christmas and EID they get £25 voucher
At Christmas they get advent calendar and hamper.
Doncaster Borough Council pays towards birthday celebrations for care leavers
Details:
£25 for their 18th and £50 for their 21st
Relationships
Doncaster Borough Council does not have peer mentors (other care leavers)
Doncaster Borough Council does not have other mentoring schemes
Details:
We had funding for a mentoring scheme from 2018 to 2020
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 get emotional support before, during and after disclosure
Details:
This is offered at the time of request.
Facts and Figures
Number of looked after children since 2014
| 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 479 | 484 | 514 | 568 | 532 | 506 | 549 | 589 | 542 |
|---|
Number of care leavers by age, year ending 31st March 2021
| 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | Total | 67 | 47 | 66 | 52 | 48 | 56 | 57 | 84 | 62 | 539 |
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Percentage of care leavers going onto NEET since 2014
| 2015 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 45% | 50% | 46% | 50% | 49% | 46% |
|---|
Political Control
Doncaster Borough Council is a Labour controlled council
Ofsted Ratings
Publication date: 08 April 2022
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: Inadequate
If you think this information needs updating then please get in touch