Hartlepool Borough Council
Hartlepool Borough Council has made care experience a protected characteristic.

Care Leaver Local Offer
Hartlepool 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 Download Ofsted Children's Services Inspection Download Children's Services Focused Visit

as an app: Yes - Hartlepool CIC App

At Hartlepool Borough Council care leavers co-produce the local offer.

Details:
Developed following consultations about what care leavers want to see in the offer. Recently sent ballot for care leavers to vote on topics that are important to them in relation to the local offer and have developed a young persons group who are running internal roadshows and community led roadshows to extend the care leaver offer.
The best person to contact regarding the Local Offer is:
Name:
Kirsten Fleming
Email Address:
[email protected]
Telephone:
01429 287217
The Director responsible for Children's Services is:
Name:
Ms Sally Robinson
Email Address:
[email protected]
Council Tax
Hartlepool Borough Council has exempted care leavers from Council Tax

Council tax is exempted up to the age of: 25

Hartlepool Borough Council includes care leavers from other areas in their council tax exemption policy

To apply care leavers need to:
The agreement is already in place within the local authority so the care leaver would be talking with their social worker or personal advisor about this in their plans.
Housing
Care leavers receive priority for social housing

Priority is offered up to the age of: 25

Banding priority is: Band 1 on compass

Additional information / how to qualify:
There is an agreement between the Housing advice team and the Personal advisor/social worker therefore the worker would contact the housing advice team and they would be supported through the process.
Care leavers do not get to practice independent living with taster flats

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

Details:
This would be considered and discussed on an individual basis
Hartlepool Borough Council in principle will assist with providing a deposit for care leavers in private rented property

Details:
Yes but this would be considered on an individual basis.
Setting up a home
Care leavers are provided with a setting up allowance

Allowance amount: ££2000

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

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

Hartlepool Borough Council in principle will assist with support to pay for redecoration costs of a care leavers first flat

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

Hartlepool Borough Council in principle will assist with support with mobile phone costs for care leavers

Hartlepool Borough Council will pay towards cooking equipment for care leavers

Employment and Apprenticeships
Hartlepool Borough Council offers work experience within the council for care leavers

We are unable to confirm how many places per year

Hartlepool Borough Council will pay for work/interview clothes

Hartlepool Borough Council will pay towards travel to work or training

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

We are unable to confirm how many are ringfenced a year

Care leavers are working as apprenticeships within Hartlepool Borough Council

Number per year: Less than 5

Participation in Society
Hartlepool Borough Council will ensure each young person has ID documents when they leave care

Passport: Yes

Provisional Driving Licence: Yes

Birth Certificate: Yes

Hartlepool Borough Council in principle will assist with driving lessons

Hartlepool Borough Council in principle will assist with driving theory tests

Hartlepool Borough Council in principle will assist with driving tests

Hartlepool Borough Council in principle will assist with CBT tests

Partners local to Hartlepool 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
Hartlepool Borough Council has a children in care and care leavers council

Details of council:
Children in Care Council - 7 members aged 12-16
Care leaves group - 4 members aged 17-22
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:
Children don't have their own bank account but there is a designated budget.
Health and Wellbeing
Care leavers get free access to leisure facilities as part of the Local Offer

Free gym membership: Yes

Free swimming: Yes

Free classes: No

Free leisure up to the age of: 25

They cannot take a friend for free

Details to apply:
Angela Leonard(Participation Worker) or Social Worker/Personal Advisor
Special Occasions
Hartlepool Borough Council pays towards Christmas and other religious celebrations for care leavers

Details:
We organise gifts and hampers and Christmas dinners.
Hartlepool Borough Council pays towards birthday celebrations for care leavers

Details:
We give a financial gift for each birthday.
Relationships
Hartlepool Borough Council does not have peer mentors (other care leavers)

Hartlepool Borough Council does not have other mentoring schemes

Access to care files
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:
This would be looked at on an individual basis and assessed if needed or offered. A social worker or support worker would support with this.
Facts and Figures
Number of looked after children since 2014
2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 165 | 206 | 255 | 278 | 285 | 311 | 346 | 308 | 321 |
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Number of care leavers by age, year ending 31st March 2021
16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | Total | 21 | 16 | 24 | 24 | 11 | 15 | 26 | 23 | 13 | 173 |
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Percentage of care leavers going onto NEET since 2014
2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 52% | n/a | 45% | 49% | 40% | 39% | 36% |
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Political Control
Hartlepool Borough Council is controlled by an Independent / Conservative coalition
Ofsted Ratings
Publication date: 28 August 2018
Overall effectiveness: Good

Experiences and progress of children in care: N/A

Experiences and progress of care leavers: Outstanding
Impact of leaders on social work practice with children and families: Good

If you think this information needs updating then please get in touch
Compare Organisations
Name | Overall Ofsted effectiveness | Priority for Social Housing | Offers Work Experience | Council Tax Exemption | Free Access to Leisure | Remove from Comparisons |
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