Plymouth City Council

Care leavers receive priority for social housing

Priority is offered up to the age of: 25

Banding priority is: Band B

Additional information / how to qualify:
Personal Advisor completes application

Care leavers get to practice independent living with taster flats

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

Plymouth City Council in principle will assist with providing a deposit for care leavers in private rented property

Details:
We will always consider the needs of an individual and offer the most appropriate solution to any housing choices made by our care leavers. We will offer One month and a deposit.

Care leavers are provided with a setting up allowance

Allowance amount: ££2000 (Rising to £3000 for young people turning 18/leaving care after April 2023)

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

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

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

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

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

Plymouth City Council will pay towards cooking equipment for care leavers

Plymouth City Council does not offer work experience within the council for care leavers

Plymouth City Council will pay for work/interview clothes

Plymouth City Council will pay towards travel to work or training

There are ringfenced apprenticeship vacancies for care leavers at Plymouth City Council

1 for either Care leavers OR children in care apprenticeship vacancies are ringfenced a year

Care leavers are working as apprenticeships within Plymouth City Council

Number per year: 2

Additional information about work and training:
We have an apprenticeship especially for a care experienced young person for our participation team. Our collaborative partnership with Barnardos has also recently offered a position specifically for a care experienced individual.

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

Passport: Yes

Provisional Driving Licence: Yes

Birth Certificate: Yes

Plymouth City Council in principle will assist with driving lessons

Plymouth City Council in principle will assist with driving theory tests

Plymouth City Council in principle will assist with driving tests

Plymouth City Council will not in principle assist with CBT tests

Partners local to Plymouth City 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:
A number of Elected Members have pledged to offer mentoring to care leavers generally or in specific areas, such as UCAS applications.
Each directorate has committed to offering mentorships.
As part of the career progression pathway for ring-fenced apprenticeships we are committed to providing mentors for care leavers. This includes a current mentoring relationship.

Plymouth City Council has a children in care and care leavers council

Details of council:
Junior Listen and Care Council (Ages 8-12) Activity based session at various venues around the city on a monthly basis
Senior Listen and Care Council (Ages 13-17) Fortnightly session
Care Experienced Council (Ages 18 – 25) – Fortnightly session
Unaccompanied Asylum Seeker Listen and Care Council – Monthly session
The VOICE Session - Fortnightly session (representatives from the above groups) [email protected]

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

Plymouth City Council does not have peer mentors (other care leavers)

Plymouth City 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:
Young people are supported to access support via Avocados Advocacy and Ask Jan as well as their Personal Advisor.