Stoke-on-Trent City Council

Care leavers receive priority for social housing

Priority is offered up to the age of: 21

Banding priority is: Band 1/A

Additional information / how to qualify:
A housing needs assessment is undertaken when the yp is 17.5 this then results with applications for housing post 18 whereby YP are given priority due to their legal status of being identified as a care leaver.

YP are not required to do anything apart from attend the meeting with the House Needs Officer alongside their Social Worker.

Care leavers get to practice independent living with taster flats

Additional information:
A training flat is available for a period of 3 weeks. This is a one bedded flat in a residential area of the city. Young people undertake independence work / safety planning and have support from social workers/ PA’s placement staff or foster careers

Stoke-on-Trent City Council will not in principle assist as a guarantor for care leavers in private rented property

Details:
Supported is provided in the interim up till care leavers can legally gain a tenancy.

Stoke-on-Trent City Council will not in principle assist with providing a deposit for care leavers in private rented property

Details:
If care leavers do not access social housing then financial support is given with deposits and first couple of weeks of rent

Care leavers are provided with a setting up allowance

Allowance amount: ££3000

Stoke-on-Trent City Council will not in principle assist with support to pay at least the first year TV licence for care leavers

Stoke-on-Trent City Council in principle will assist with support to pay at least the first year home contents insurance for care leavers

Stoke-on-Trent City Council in principle will assist with support to pay for redecoration costs of a care leavers first flat

Stoke-on-Trent City Council will not in principle assist with support with broadband costs for care leavers

Stoke-on-Trent City Council will not in principle assist with support with mobile phone costs for care leavers

Stoke-on-Trent City Council will pay towards cooking equipment for care leavers

Stoke-on-Trent City Council offers work experience within the council for care leavers

Number of places per year: Depends on availability and area of work

Stoke-on-Trent City Council will pay for work/interview clothes

Stoke-on-Trent City Council will not pay towards travel to work or training

There are no ringfenced apprenticeship vacancies for care leavers at Stoke-on-Trent City Council

Care leavers are working as apprenticeships within Stoke-on-Trent City Council

Number per year: Depends each year , currently we have less than 5

Additional information about work and training:
We have good knowledge regarding local services and support / dedicated DWP workers
Housing officer dedicated to care leavers.

Stoke-on-Trent City Council will ensure each young person has ID documents when they leave care

Passport: Yes

Provisional Driving Licence: No

Birth Certificate: Yes

Stoke-on-Trent City Council will not in principle assist with driving lessons

Stoke-on-Trent City Council will not in principle assist with driving theory tests

Stoke-on-Trent City Council will not in principle assist with driving tests

Stoke-on-Trent City Council will not in principle assist with CBT tests

Partners local to Stoke-on-Trent 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:
Councilors attend the care council and events which are attended by both

Stoke-on-Trent City Council has a children in care and care leavers council

Details of council:
11-15
16 on wards

Last Tuesday of every month

[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

Details:
Doesn’t have a bank account or constitution but it does have Terms of reference

Stoke-on-Trent City Council has peer mentors (other care leavers)

Stoke-on-Trent City Council does not have other mentoring schemes

Details:
Care leavers can be linked to a peer mentor through attendees at the care leaves council and also through the House Project community.
We are also developing a peer support network for Care Leavers who are parents, through their support group which takes place weekly for Care Experienced Mothers and their children.

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 and request files through the PA’s who support them through the process and share the records with them offering emotional support