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 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

201520162017201820192020202120222023
165206255278285311346308321

Number of care leavers by age, year ending 31st March 2021

161718192021222324Total
211624241115262313173

Percentage of care leavers going onto NEET since 2014

2015201620172018201920202021
52%n/a45%49%40%39%36%

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