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: No
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 405588
The Director responsible for Children's Services is:
Name:
Alison Sutherland
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: 2
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: £3000
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
25% apprenticeship vacancies 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 offer support with free travel for care leavers
Bus: Unknown
Train / Tram: Unknown
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 has other mentoring schemes
Access to care files
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:
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 2015
| 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 2015
| 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 a Labour controlled council
Ofsted Ratings
Publication date: 18 March 2024
Overall effectiveness: Outstanding
Experiences and progress of children in care: Outstanding
Experiences and progress of care leavers: Good
Impact of leaders on social work practice with children and families: Outstanding
If you think this information needs updating then please get in touch