Walsall Council

Care leavers receive priority for social housing

Priority is offered up to the age of: 25

Banding priority is: Gold

Additional information / how to qualify:
Contact Young Persons Housing team for more information - 01922 652250

Care leavers get to practice independent living with taster flats

Additional information:
Training flat and allowance in line with current UC rate - this can be accessed via your PA or Social Worker

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

Walsall Council will not in principle assist with providing a deposit for care leavers in private rented property

Care leavers are provided with a setting up allowance

Allowance amount: ££3000

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

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

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

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

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

Walsall Council will not pay towards cooking equipment for care leavers

Walsall Council offers work experience within the council for care leavers

Number of places per year: Secured on a case by case basis as required

Walsall Council will pay for work/interview clothes

Walsall Council will not pay towards travel to work or training

There are ringfenced apprenticeship vacancies for care leavers at Walsall Council

2 apprenticeship vacancies are ringfenced a year

Care leavers are working as apprenticeships within Walsall Council

Number per year: 2

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

Passport: Yes

Provisional Driving Licence: Yes

Birth Certificate: Yes

Walsall Council will not in principle assist with driving lessons

Walsall Council will not in principle assist with driving theory tests

Walsall Council will not in principle assist with driving tests

Walsall Council will not in principle assist with CBT tests

Partners local to Walsall Council offer support with free travel for care leavers

Bus: Yes

Train / Tram: No

Additional details:
11 Months of free transport on West Midlands Travel buses is currently being rolled out to all eligible 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:
Young people are invited to join Corporate Parenting Board meetings which take place at the Transition and Leaving Care Hub. Elected members also regularly join social events at the hub to chat informally with young people and gather their views.

Walsall Council has a children in care and care leavers council

Details of council:
Children in Care Council and Care Leavers Forum
https://go.walsall.gov.uk/children-and-young-people/children-care-and-care-leavers/children-care-council-and-care-leavers

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

Walsall Council does not have peer mentors (other care leavers)

Walsall Council does not have other mentoring schemes

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:
Support for care leavers from PA with reading through and understanding records and support to access other local/national services for emotional support if needed.