Solihull Borough Council

Care leavers receive priority for social housing

Priority is offered up to the age of: 25

Banding priority is: Band B

Additional information / how to qualify:
We have a protocol in place that enables us to nominate care leavers for priority banding B when it’s assessed in their pathway plan that they are ready for their own tenancies. Care leavers over the age of 25 also get some priority in line with the Housing legislation.

Care leavers get to practice independent living with taster flats

Additional information:
One long-term training flat and one short-term training flat.

Solihull Borough Council in principle will assist as a guarantor for care leavers in private rented property

Details:
We do this primarily for young people at university, but would consider this for all other young people where private renting is the only option and where it’s assessed that they are capable of managing a tenancy.

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

Details:
As above, if this cannot be obtained via Discretionary Housing Payments and where privately rented accommodation is the only option for a young person.

Care leavers are provided with a setting up allowance

Allowance amount: ££2000

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

Solihull Borough Council in principle will assist with support to pay at least the first year home contents insurance for care leavers

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

Solihull Borough Council in principle will assist with support with broadband costs for care leavers

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

Solihull Borough Council will pay towards cooking equipment for care leavers

Solihull Borough Council offers work experience within the council for care leavers

Number of places per year: We do not hold this data and so we are unable to provide it.

Solihull Borough Council will pay for work/interview clothes

Solihull Borough Council will pay towards travel to work or training

There are ringfenced apprenticeship vacancies for care leavers at Solihull Borough Council

1 apprenticeship vacancy is ringfenced a year

Care leavers are working as apprenticeships within Solihull Borough Council

Number per year: 1

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

Passport: Yes

Provisional Driving Licence: Yes

Birth Certificate: Yes

Solihull Borough Council will not in principle assist with driving lessons

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

Solihull Borough Council will not in principle assist with driving tests

Solihull Borough Council will not in principle assist with CBT tests

Partners local to Solihull 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 meet corporate parents through corporate parent meeting/scrutiny/invitation for corporate parents to attend group meetings.

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

Details of council:
OVOS (Our Voice, Our Service) – email [email protected] or Twitter @SolihullYV
Under 10s – 4
Under 16s – 10
16+ and Care Leavers - 12

Children in care and care leavers council does not have its own bank account

Children in care and care leavers council has its own constitution

Details:
OVOS has its own Terms of Reference (TOR), which was updated in 2020 and approved through the Corporate Parenting Board.

Solihull Borough Council has peer mentors (other care leavers)

Solihull Borough Council does not have other mentoring schemes

Details:
OVOS (Our Voice, Our Service) enables some peer mentoring to take place.

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:
Support is given to go through the information governance team to apply for access to records. Discussions are held with the young person making the request and support offered as appropriate.