Dudley Borough Council

Care leavers receive priority for social housing

Priority is offered up to the age of: 25

Banding priority is: Band 1

Additional information / how to qualify:
With care leavers status they can apply for housing at 17 if deemed ready for independence. Housing application is submitted and fast tracked by designated housing officer for Care Leavers.

Care leavers get to practice independent living with taster flats

Additional information:
Care Leaver trainer flats are available for Care Leavers to spend short periods of time in, to develop independence skills as part of their preparation for independent living.

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

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

Details:
In exceptional circumstances, could be if out of borough and don’t qualify for priority social housing.

Care leavers are provided with a setting up allowance

Allowance amount: ££2000

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

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

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

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

Dudley Borough Council will not in principle assist with support with mobile phone costs for care leavers

Dudley Borough Council will pay towards cooking equipment for care leavers

Dudley Borough Council does not offer work experience within the council for care leavers

Dudley Borough Council will pay for work/interview clothes

Dudley Borough Council will pay towards travel to work or training

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

Care leavers are working as apprenticeships within Dudley Borough Council

Number per year: 2

Additional information about work and training:
Connexions advisers and Black Country Impact who work specifically with Care Leavers to get support them with accessing employability skills and training opportunities. Daily job opportunity bulletins provided by local job centre.

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

Passport: Yes

Provisional Driving Licence: Yes

Birth Certificate: Yes

Dudley Borough Council will not in principle assist with driving lessons

Dudley Borough Council will not in principle assist with driving theory tests

Dudley Borough Council in principle will assist with driving tests

Dudley Borough Council in principle will assist with CBT tests

Partners local to Dudley 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

Additional details:
Care leavers who attend Care Leavers Forum have opportunity to attend corporate parenting meetings on a regular basis.

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

Details of council:
Age 11-17. 19 members average attendance is 12

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:
Although there is a Terms of Reference & group purpose

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

Dudley Borough Council has other mentoring schemes

Details:
We offer mentoring with specialist services who are ex-gang members to reduce the risk of YP offending or getting drawn into gang culture.

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:
They apply via Information Governance

They are offered support from a YPA if they are in agreement. We also have access to our own in house emotional wellbeing service who can offer support if needed.