Halton Borough Council

Care leavers receive priority for social housing

Priority is offered up to the age of: 25

Banding priority is: Band A

Additional information / how to qualify:
Care Leavers are referred into local Care Leaver accommodation group through the leaving care team to discuss at multi agency forum with housing providers to match to properties. They must also register on our current online housing system and provide documents to make account go live in order to allow to bid.

Care leavers get to practice independent living with taster flats

Additional information:
This can be whilst they are still in care in a semi-independent placement with reduced hours of support in line with their plan to prepare them for transition into independent living.

Halton also has a trainer flat facility where floating support is able to be provided.

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

Details:
If there are cases where it is assessed as appropriate to act as guarantor based on affordability and in line with young person’s plan for longevity.

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

Details:
If there are cases where it is assessed as appropriate to act as guarantor based on affordability and in line with young person’s plan for longevity.

Care leavers are provided with a setting up allowance

Allowance amount: £2500

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

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

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

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

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

Halton Borough Council will pay towards cooking equipment for care leavers

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

Halton Borough Council will pay for work/interview clothes

Halton Borough Council will pay towards travel to work or training

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

There are no care leavers working as apprenticeships within Halton Borough Council

Additional information about work and training:
An apprenticeship is currently under development within the local authority.

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

Passport: Yes

Provisional Driving Licence: Yes

Birth Certificate: Yes

Halton Borough Council in principle will assist with driving lessons

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

Halton Borough Council will not in principle assist with driving tests

Halton Borough Council will not in principle assist with CBT tests

Partners local to Halton 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 have the opportunity for mentoring with any of the senior leadership team

Additional details:
No information given

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

Details of council:
Participation officer – [email protected]

Monthly meeting open age group.

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:
Halton CIC and constitution link:
https://haltoncicc.co.uk/

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

Halton Borough Council does not have other mentoring schemes

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:
Care Leavers generally go through their Personal Advisor to access their file records. They can however contact the council direct, either through the Halton Borough Council main website/contact centre or through the Local offer website. The leaving care team notifies the appropriate person within the council once it has been requested in writing to start the process.

Ahead of handing files over, worker will ask the care leaver if they want to go through the files with them so they provide advice and support and plan this piece of work. It may be a one off or an on-going offer of support in reading the files.